“And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

Luke 2:48-51 (ESV)

I remember so many times when people I’ve known have talked about the first part of that story in a kind of “Jesus really showed them!” sort of manner. Like Jesus would be saying it quite matter-of-factly, even condescendingly. That’s not the way I see this passage, especially in light of the true character of Christ and verse 51. I imagine Christ being disturbed that his parents were upset, and being quite concerned about it. I imagine his statement of “Did you not know?” to be out of love and concern rather than I-trump-you-ness. And when you talk about verse 51, it’s obvious Jesus recognized his earthly authorities (a curious subject. It seems a strange paradox that Christ would be the ruler of all things in heaven and on earth yet have earthly rulers he was submitted to i.e. parents, governing rulers). At the heart this display and others were out of respect and love, and for example.

-Riley