Finding in The Temple

The Finding in the Temple, also called "Christ among the Doctors" or the Disputation (the usual names in art), was an episode in the early life of Jesus depicted in the Gospel of Luke. It is the only event of the later childhood of Jesus mentioned in a gospel.

The episode is only described in Luke 2:42-51. Jesus at the age of twelve accompanies Mary and Joseph and a large group of their relatives and friends to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, following "the custom of the feast" (NKJV) - that is, Passover. On the day of their return, Jesus "lingered" in the Temple, but Mary and Joseph thought was among their group. Mary and Joseph headed back home and after a day of travel realized Jesus was missing, so they returned to Jerusalem, finding Jesus three days later. He was found in the Temple in discussion with the elders who were amazed at his learning, especially given his young age. When admonished by Mary, Jesus replied "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?" The story was slightly elaborated in later literature, such as the apocryphal 2nd-century Infancy Gospel of Thomas(19:1-12).

The later Jewish custom of Bar Mitzvah for boys at thirteen, considered the age at which a Jewish male would attain responsibility for learning and adhering to the commandments, is recorded some centuries after the description in Luke but may have been the reason for Jesus' visit to the temple and study of the scriptures.

The losing of Jesus is the third of the Seven sorrows of Mary, and the Finding in the Temple is the fifth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.