In returning from Jerusalem with the crowd, talking and visiting engrossed their minds, and Jesus was forgotten for an entire day. His absence was not observed until the close of the day. Joseph and Mary had been honored of God in an especial manner, in being intrusted with the responsible charge of the Saviour. Angels had heralded his birth to the shepherds, and God had directed the course of Joseph, to preserve the life of the infant Saviour. But the confusion of much talk had led to the neglect of their sacred trust, and Jesus was not brought to mind for an entire day, by those who should not have forgotten him for a moment. They returned their weary way, sad and fearful, to Jerusalem. They recalled the terrible massacre of innocent children by the cruel Herod in hope of destroying the king of Israel. When their anxiety was relieved by finding Jesus, they did not acknowledge their own neglect of duty, but their words reflected on Christ—“Why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Jesus, in most respectful language, inquires, “How is it that ye sought me?” But these words modestly reflect back the censure upon themselves, in reminding them that, if they had not permitted themselves to be engrossed with matters of no special importance, they would not have had the trouble of searching for him. He then justifies his course: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” While he was engaged in the work he came to the earth to perform, they had neglected the work his Father had especially intrusted to them. They could not fully comprehend the words of Christ; yet Mary, in a great measure, understood their import, and laid them away in her heart to ponder over in the future. {2SP 34.1}

Da de var på vej tilbage fra Jerusalem med forsamlingen, talte de og ransagede dem selv, og Jesus blev glemt for en hel dag. Der blev ikke lagt mærke til hans fravær før slutningen af dagen. Josef og Maria var blevet æret af Gud på en særlig måde, ved at blive betroet ansvaret for Frelseren. Engle havde bebudet hans fødsel for hyrderne, og Gud havde ført Josefs vej, til at bevare barnefrelserens liv. Men forvirringen af megen tale havde fået dem til at forsømme deres hellige betroelse, og de kom ikke i tanker om Jesus en hel dag, af dem der ikke burde have glemt ham et øjeblik. De vendte træt tilbage, bedrøvede og bange til Jerusalem. De genkaldte den forfærdelige massakre om uskyldige børn af den grusomme Herodes, der håbede at udslette Israels konge. Da deres ængstelse kom til live, ved at finde Jesus, indrømmede de ikke deres egen pligtsforsømmelse, men deres ord blev kastet tilbage på Kristus: "Hvorfor har du behandlet os sådan? Se din fader og jeg har ledt efter dig med ængstelse". Jesus spørger i det mest respektfulde sprog: "Hvorfor har I ledt efter mig?" Men disse ord blev sendt pænt kritikken tilbage til dem selv, og mindede dem om at, hvis de ikke var så optaget af ting af ingen særlig betydning, ville de ikke have haft problemer med at lede efter ham. Så retfærdiggør han sin handlemåde: "Ved I ikke at jeg må være i min Faders hus?" Medens han var i gang med det arbejde han kom til jorden for at udrette, havde de (35) forsømt det arbejde som hans Fader særlig havde instrueret dem om. De kunne ikke til fulde forstå Kristi ord, alligevel forstod Maria i stort omfang deres vigtighed, og lagde dem ind i sit hjerte, til at tænke over i fremtiden.