What did Jesus do before His ministry began?

When Jesus was 12 years old, He went to Jerusalem with His parents to celebrate the Passover. On his family’s return trip, they soon realized He was left in Jerusalem and rushed back to search for Him. They found Jesus in the temple speaking with rabbis and religious leaders.

Jesus said to His parents, “ ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ ” (Luke 2:49). Some believe that at this point, Jesus separated from His parents and went to study under scholars and mystics from the Orient. They point to John 7:15, which says, “The Jews marveled, saying, ‘How does this Man know letters, having never studied?’ ” Critics still struggle to believe that an uneducated carpenter could teach such sublime truths.

But notice the next few verses—Jesus returned to Nazareth and continued to live under the authority of His earthly parents. During His early years, Christ grew physically, mentally, and spiritually. He followed the normal growth of any other child into adulthood; except, of course, we believe that Jesus never sinned.

The Bible speaks little else of Christ’s younger life. We can safely assume that Jesus worked with Joseph in the family business until the father passed away. When He came to teach in His hometown, everyone knew Him. He hadn’t lived in China or Rome and become a stranger (Mark 6:3). Jesus likely worked in the family business until John the Baptist began preaching. At that time, He knew His ministry was about to begin.

I believe Jesus was educated at the feet of His mother. Jewish children were among the most literate, and there is little reason to think that Christ grew up in a home without education. His primary lesson books were the Hebrew Scriptures and nature. It shows that a simple, quiet home where everyone helps out can enhance the growth of a child in a way no “sophisticated” curriculum ever could.

Key Bible Texts

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:51-52 KJV)