The doctors, and expounders of the law, always taught the people publicly upon especial occasions. It was upon one of these occasions that Jesus gave manifest proofs of superior wisdom, penetration, and mature judgment. The people were more surprised because the parents of Christ were poor, and he had not received the advantages of education. The question passed from lip to lip, Whence has this youth such wisdom, having never learned? While the parents of Christ were in search of him, they saw large numbers flocking to the temple; and as they entered it, the well-known voice of their son arrested their attention. They could not get sight of him for the crowd; but they knew that they were not mistaken, for no voice was like his, marked with solemn melody. The parents gazed in astonishment at the scene. Their son, in the midst of the grave and learned doctors and scribes, was giving evidence of superior knowledge by his discreet questions and answers. His parents were gratified to see him thus honored. But the mother could not forget the grief and anxiety she had suffered because of his tarry at Jerusalem, and she, in a reproving manner, inquired why he had thus dealt with them, relating her fears and sorrow on his account. {2SP 33.1}

Lovlærerne og dem der udlægger den, underviste altid folk offentligt ved særlig anledninger. Det var ved disse anledninger at Jesus gav tydelige beviser på overlegen visdom, gennemslagskraft og moden dømmekraft. Folket var mere overraket fordi Kristi forældre var fattige, og han ikke havde fået uddannelsens fordele. Spørgsmålet gik fra mund til mund: Hvor har denne unge en sådan visdom, vi aldrig har hørt før? Når Kristi forældre ledte efter ham, så de store skarer flokkes omkring templet, og da de gik ind i det, fangede deres søns velkendte røst deres opmærksomhed. De kunne ikke få øje på ham for skaren; men de vidste at de ikke var gået fejl, for ingen røst var som hans, markeret med en så højtidelig melodi. Forældrene så med forbavselse ind på sceneriet. Deres søn midt i blandt garve og lærte doktorere og skriftkloge, der beviste sin overlegne kendskab ved hans direkte spørgsmål og svar. Hans forældre var glade for at se ham blive æret sådan. Men moderen kunne ikke glemme dem sorg og bekymring som hun havde lidt, fordi han forblev i Jerusalem, og hun spurgte ham på en irettesættende måde, hvorfor han havde behandlet dem, og gav ham skylden for sin frygt og sorg.