Once in Royal David's City (Stanza 3)

The Bible records only one event from Jesus' later childhood.

Every year, Joseph and Mary journeyed at least ninety miles from their home in Nazareth to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Passover. Given the distance, a larger group of family and friends would make the trek together, with the kids playing freely, running back and forth between families.

When Jesus was twelve years old, they made the same trip. But it was after they'd spent a whole day traveling back to Nazareth that Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus wasn't with any of the other families in the caravan. They hurried back to Jerusalem and spent three, increasingly anxious days looking for him.

They found him, “in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.” (Luke 2:46, New Living Translation, 2015)

Now in adulthood, Jesus would later be fierce in confronting religious hypocrites and mercenaries. (Matthew 23:13ff; Mark 11:15-16) But in this situation, he had managed to ask questions of the religious teachers in a way that wasn't arrogant or offensive. Rather, the Bible says that, “All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (v.47)

However, “His parents didn’t know what to think. 'Son,' his mother said to him, 'why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” (v.48)

Jesus response was guileless, asked in the same respectful tone he had used with the temple authorities:

“'But why did you need to search?' he asked. 'Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?' But they didn’t understand what he meant. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Luke 2:49-52, New Living Translation, 2015)

Jesus fulfilled all the Law--including the commandment to honor His earthly parents, even when there were undoubtedly times when He could have tried to "pull rank" on them!

"Once in Royal David's City" was written as a children's carol. Stanza three is directed at children in particular, but also has a message for how adults should obey their own, heavenly Father.

And, through all His wondrous childhood,
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.

 

 

Opening photo from https://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/young-jesus-temple/