Jesus’ Parents

Jesus’ Parents - Luke 2

LUKE 2 COMMENTARY ◄
Luke 2:36-40 Anna the Prophetess

Luke 2:41-45 Jesus’ Parents

LUKE 2:41 41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

Who were Jesus’ “parents” (Luke 2:41)?
Jesus’ earthly parents were His stepfather Joseph and His mother Mary, but Jesus is God who has always existed, so He didn't have parents who brought Him into existence. Even Mary is just the human vessel through whom Jesus came to us in fully human form.

What is the “feast of the Passover” (Luke 2:41)?
See Passover.

LUKE 2:42-44 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When the days were completed and they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and His mother did not know. 44 But supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day’s journey, then looked for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

What is meant by “the caravan” (Luke 2:44)?
For a major feast like the Passover, “relatives and acquaintances” (Luke 2:44) from the same town typically traveled to and from Jerusalem together, both for safety and to help each other if any need arose.

Why would Joseph and Mary suppose Jesus to have been in the caravan?
Since Jesus was “twelve years old” (Luke 2:42), some if not all of Jesus’ half brothers and sisters would have been born by this time, so Joseph and Mary may have been busy with the younger children and supposed that Jesus must be somewhere in the caravan, perhaps with boys His age.

When did they realize their mistake?
When the caravan stopped for the night after “a day’s journey” (Luke 2:44).

Had Jesus snuck away from the caravan and gone back to Jerusalem?
He had simply “remained behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:43) at the temple (see next page). Chances are, they visited the temple, then left, and erroneously assumed that Jesus had left with them.

LUKE 2:45 45 And not having found Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.

Did they look for Jesus in Jerusalem or on their way back to Jerusalem?
Most probably both, as Joseph and Mary are likely to have searched through all of the caravans headed away from Jerusalem that they encountered on their way back to the city.