Jesus At The Age Of Twelve
Children's Resources
Spotlight On Jesus
Readers' Theater For Children's Church
Characters
Narrator
Jesus
Joseph
Mary
Priest
Questions
1.
Why did Jesus' parents leave Jerusalem without making sure Jesus was in the caravan?
2.
Where did Joseph and Mary find Jesus?
3.
What was he doing?
Narrator: When Jesus was twelve, Joseph and Mary brought him to the Passover festival in Jerusalem. The week is over and they are returning to Nazareth.
Jesus: Mom, Dad, I'm going back to the temple. I want to hear the priests discuss the scriptures.
Joseph: (slight disapproval) You're going back there again? You've already spent half of the week at the temple.
Mary: Why don't you come with us, son? We're going for a walk through the city.
Jesus: I'd rather go to the temple.
Joseph: Just remember, son, we're leaving for home in just three hours. If you wish, you may travel with some of your cousins, but when we stop for the night, look us up. I don't want you to miss any more meals.
Narrator: That afternoon when Mary and Joseph headed back to Nazareth, they assumed that Jesus was traveling with some relatives. When evening came, they stopped for the night.
Mary: Joseph, I'm worried. It's been an hour since we've stopped and still no sign of Jesus.
Joseph: I've checked with all the relatives. Jesus isn't with any of them.
Mary: Perhaps he misunderstood when we were leaving, and now he's wandering the streets of Jerusalem, alone, hungry, and frightened.
Joseph: Tomorrow, as soon as the sun comes up, we're heading back to Jerusalem.
Narrator: Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem and began searching for Jesus.
Mary: (worriedly) We've been searching for over a day and not a trace of our son.
Joseph: I can't understand what's gotten into that boy. He's always been so dependable; never given us a moment's worry.
Mary: The only thing left is to pray. Let's go to the temple and ask God's help.
Joseph: The temple? Yes! That's where Jesus spent every spare moment. Why didn't we think of that sooner?
Narrator: Jesus' mother and father hurry to the huge temple complex.
Mary: There's a large group over there. Looks like priests and teachers. Let's ask them if ... (stops --�excited) That boy sitting in the group. It looks like ... it's Jesus!
Jesus: Honored teachers, what does the scripture say about the Messiah? What will he be like? What will he do? Will he be a military leader? Will he drive out the Romans?
Priest: (chuckling) So many questions from so young a boy; but good ones. Well, there are different opinions about the Messiah. Some think he'll be a mighty soldier who will destroy our enemies. Others think he'll be a man of peace with love and kindness, one who will turn the people back to God.
Jesus: I read in the prophet Isaiah's writings that God's servant will suffer like a Passover lamb, bearing the sins of others. Does that passage refer to the Messiah?
Priest: An extraordinary question. (thinking) Hmmm. A suffering Messiah? A novel thought, and quite profound. A Messiah like the scapegoat, bearing away the sins of the people.
Joseph: (whispers) Jesus, come over here.
Priest: Young man, I think your parents are calling you.
Jesus: Mother, Father, how wonderful to see you.
Mary: (not angry) Son, where have you been these last three days?
Jesus: Why, right here in the temple.
Mary: Did you forget to be in the caravan when we left for home? Your father and I have been worried sick. We've been desperately searching for you for three days.
Jesus: Didn't you realize I'd be here in my Father's house?
Joseph: We assumed you'd obey.
Jesus: I'm sorry to have caused you pain, but my Heavenly Father wanted me here, discovering his plan for my life. But I'm ready, let's go home. I shall obey you.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
Narrator
Jesus
Joseph
Mary
Priest
Questions
1.
Why did Jesus' parents leave Jerusalem without making sure Jesus was in the caravan?
2.
Where did Joseph and Mary find Jesus?
3.
What was he doing?
Narrator: When Jesus was twelve, Joseph and Mary brought him to the Passover festival in Jerusalem. The week is over and they are returning to Nazareth.
Jesus: Mom, Dad, I'm going back to the temple. I want to hear the priests discuss the scriptures.
Joseph: (slight disapproval) You're going back there again? You've already spent half of the week at the temple.
Mary: Why don't you come with us, son? We're going for a walk through the city.
Jesus: I'd rather go to the temple.
Joseph: Just remember, son, we're leaving for home in just three hours. If you wish, you may travel with some of your cousins, but when we stop for the night, look us up. I don't want you to miss any more meals.
Narrator: That afternoon when Mary and Joseph headed back to Nazareth, they assumed that Jesus was traveling with some relatives. When evening came, they stopped for the night.
Mary: Joseph, I'm worried. It's been an hour since we've stopped and still no sign of Jesus.
Joseph: I've checked with all the relatives. Jesus isn't with any of them.
Mary: Perhaps he misunderstood when we were leaving, and now he's wandering the streets of Jerusalem, alone, hungry, and frightened.
Joseph: Tomorrow, as soon as the sun comes up, we're heading back to Jerusalem.
Narrator: Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem and began searching for Jesus.
Mary: (worriedly) We've been searching for over a day and not a trace of our son.
Joseph: I can't understand what's gotten into that boy. He's always been so dependable; never given us a moment's worry.
Mary: The only thing left is to pray. Let's go to the temple and ask God's help.
Joseph: The temple? Yes! That's where Jesus spent every spare moment. Why didn't we think of that sooner?
Narrator: Jesus' mother and father hurry to the huge temple complex.
Mary: There's a large group over there. Looks like priests and teachers. Let's ask them if ... (stops --�excited) That boy sitting in the group. It looks like ... it's Jesus!
Jesus: Honored teachers, what does the scripture say about the Messiah? What will he be like? What will he do? Will he be a military leader? Will he drive out the Romans?
Priest: (chuckling) So many questions from so young a boy; but good ones. Well, there are different opinions about the Messiah. Some think he'll be a mighty soldier who will destroy our enemies. Others think he'll be a man of peace with love and kindness, one who will turn the people back to God.
Jesus: I read in the prophet Isaiah's writings that God's servant will suffer like a Passover lamb, bearing the sins of others. Does that passage refer to the Messiah?
Priest: An extraordinary question. (thinking) Hmmm. A suffering Messiah? A novel thought, and quite profound. A Messiah like the scapegoat, bearing away the sins of the people.
Joseph: (whispers) Jesus, come over here.
Priest: Young man, I think your parents are calling you.
Jesus: Mother, Father, how wonderful to see you.
Mary: (not angry) Son, where have you been these last three days?
Jesus: Why, right here in the temple.
Mary: Did you forget to be in the caravan when we left for home? Your father and I have been worried sick. We've been desperately searching for you for three days.
Jesus: Didn't you realize I'd be here in my Father's house?
Joseph: We assumed you'd obey.
Jesus: I'm sorry to have caused you pain, but my Heavenly Father wanted me here, discovering his plan for my life. But I'm ready, let's go home. I shall obey you.
Read the questions again, and prompt answers from the children.
