many things in the
great and ancient city of Jerusalem which would be full of interest for
a boy of twelve, who had just come for the first time from His distant
village home. But there was no place so attractive to Jesus as the
Temple of God. There was nothing that pleased Him so much as to hear
what the wise men of the Temple had to say about God's truth and God's
service. He had thought a great deal about these matters Himself
though He was only a boy. He had a great many questions to ask. Three
days had not been long enough for Him to find out all that He wanted to
know. He thought that Joseph and Mary would have understood what He
liked best, that they would have known exactly where to find Him, that
they would never have thought of looking for Him in any other place
than His Father's house.

You see that the love of heavenly wisdom is as natural and as beautiful
in a young mind as in an older one. The picture that I have been
describing shows Jesus with a real, bright, boyish face, which is
earnest and thoughtful at the same time. And you boys and girls who
read these pages will be able to make the best of the happy days of
your youth if you love your Heavenly Father and His house, if you are
eager to know and to obey His will.

II

Secondly, there is _Obedience to earthly parents_. It was not with any
intention of disobeying Joseph and Mary that Jesus stayed behind in the
Temple. He did not think of their losing Him, or of their being
anxious about Him. He did not mean to grieve or vex them. He was so
carried away by His interest in the teaching of the wise Rabbis that He
thought about nothing else. This was just like a boy, and Jesus was a
real boy. But as soon as Joseph and Mary found Him and called Him, He
obeyed them. He rose from His seat among the doctors and went with His
parents towards the doorway. He would have liked to stay longer, and
He could not help looking back and listening to the last. But He never
once dreamed of remaining against Mary's or Joseph's will. He never
thought of making His love for God's wisdom and truth an excuse for
disobeying them. _He went down with them, and came to Nazareth: and He
was subject unto them_.[3]

And so the boys and girls who are the most earnest and thoughtful,
those who love God's house and God's Word most deeply, ought to be the
most obedient boys and girls at home. God does not want to take your
mind and heart away from your parent