And His question to them had a lesson. "Wist ye not," He said, "that I must be about My Father's business?" Jesus was engaged in the work that He had come into the world to do; but Joseph and Mary had neglected theirs. God had shown them high honor in committing to them His Son. Holy angels had directed the course of Joseph in order to preserve the life of Jesus. But for an entire day they had lost sight of Him whom they should not have forgotten for a moment. And when their anxiety was relieved, they had not censured themselves, but had cast the blame upon Him.

Og hans spørgsmål til dem rummede en lære for dem. "Vidste I ikke, at jeg bør være i min Faders gerning ?" Jesus havde beskæftiget sig med det arbejde, som han var kommet til verden for at udføre; men Josef og Maria havde forsømt deres. Gud havde vist dem en stor ære ved at betro dem sin Søn. Hellige engle havde vejledt Josef, for at Jesu liv kunne blive bevaret. Men en hel dag igennem havde de mistet ham af syne, som de ikke et eneste øjeblik burde have glemt. Og da de blev lettet for deres ængstelse, havde de ikke bebrejdet sig selv, men havde lagt hele skylden på ham.