The  parents  of  Jesus  at  first  supposed  that  the  child  was  with  some
of  their  friends,  till  evening  coming  on,  they  sought  him,  and  found
him  not.  They  returned  with  heavy  hearts  to  Jerusalem,  and  found
him  in  the  temple.  Altogether  they  had  not  seen  him  for  three  days  ;
they  had  gone  one  day's  journey  and  returned  during  another  day,  and
they  saw  him  again  on  the  third.
What  was  Jesus  doing  in  the  temple  ?  He  was  sitting  in  the  midst
of  the  doctors.  These  doctors  were  men  learned  in  the  scriptures,
who  explained  them  to  the  people  :  but  they  were  not  in  general  pious
men.  Was  Jesus  teaching  the  doctors  ?  Far  from  it.  He  was  lis-
tening to  them  :  for  it  was  the  custom  for  these  doctors  to  instruct  the
young  people,  asking  them  questions,  and  answering  their  inquiries.
