What was Jesus’ childhood like? Though not a constant question, this matter arises from time to time. It’s of interest to both Bible readers and non-Christians alike. As a major figure, Jesus of interest to many, thus his life is central to intrigue. What kind of child was He? Did He do all the normal things kids do? What about His relationship with His parents? Did He perform miracles as a child, or only as an adult. Did people know Who He was?
The truth is that we have very limited factual evidence about Jesus’ childhood. There are some insights, however, that tell us a little bit about it. Come along for a deep dive into what we possibly know about Jesus’ childhood – and how it connects with His life later in time.
Jesus’ very early days
The Bible’s focus jumps from Jesus’ conception to His young years without much fanfare. We go from reading about dreams, visions, and angelic encounters surrounding His birth to a birth in transit. While many assume Jesus was born in the manger, Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly where Jesus was born. It tells us that there wasn’t room anywhere for Mary and Joseph to stay, thus the new family had to remain in an animal stable.
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. (Luke 2:6-7, NIV)
We then jump ahead to Jesus’ presentation in the temple, which was 40 days after His birth.
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:22-24, NIV)
This might seem like an inconsequential detail, but it proves Jesus’ humanity while on earth. As an infant, Jesus went through the standard protocols for Jewish males in His day. In doing these ordinary things, we see amazing things come to pass: Simeon recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, and Anna the Prophetess leaves the temple to tell the world that He is there (Luke 2:25-38).
We then learn Jesus grew and became strong, that He was filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was upon Him (Luke 2:40).
Special visitors
Most of us associate the Wise Men’s visit with the manger. Scripture indicates their visit came later, when Jesus was old enough to be identified as a child. This identification means he was weaned, or no longer nursing (around two years old).
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11, NIV)
A long journey
Though we seldom speak of it, Jesus’ family relocated to Egypt for a time during His childhood. They were forced to relocate as they learned Herod was looking to kill Christ. To do so, he ordered all male babies under the age of two to be killed.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.”
So he got up, took the child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my Son.” (Matthew 2:13-15, NIV)
By an equally miraculous dream, the family returned to their land of origin a few years later, although we don’t know for how long. Records vary. Some say they were there three years, others three-and-a-half, and some, four. Once they returned, they went to Nazareth.
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that He would be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:21-23, NIV)
Jesus in the temple
So far, we can see that Jesus’ childhood walked a fine line between ordinary and extraordinary. His conception was a miracle, while His birth details weren’t extraordinary. The announcement of His birth by divine messengers was incredible, but the physical birth process doesn’t appear to have been different from anyone else’s. His presentation in the temple followed custom, although the visitors present recognized something extraordinary about Him. Wise visitors from the east honored Him as Priest, Prophet, and King. A divinely inspired dream sent Jesus’ family to Egypt, then to return to Nazareth. The things done weren’t always unusual, but the way they came about was, every time.
The next time we see Jesus as a child is in the temple, when He was around 12 years old.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. (Luke 2:41-47, NIV)
Where was He before?
Within Jewish tradition, Jesus was an adult once He received His bat mitzvah, somewhere around the age He was when He was found in the temple. We don’t see Him again in Scripture until He was around 30. There are many theories about where Jesus was between 12 and 30, all of which can be proved false. But what of His childhood? Where was He between 3 and 12? What was He doing?
The truth is, we don’t know. We can assume a few things from the few vague passages of Scripture we find in the Bible. The first is that, along with the normal course of life, Jesus grew, like any other human being would. He lived life among His family and community. When He was of appropriate age, He learned a trade, following after Joseph’s practice. This still doesn’t answer what Jesus was like as a child. For that, we can draw on some sources that aren’t canonical.
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas emerged long after Jesus lived on earth – somewhere around the mid-second century. It’s not considered canonical, but it does give us some insight into people’s interest in Jesus’ childhood. The fact that it exists at all proves there were legends and stories about it, thus people wondered about it. While the stories might not have been factual (especially by the time this particularly work was written), they definitely prove people saw something unique and special in Jesus and extended such to His childhood.
The writings of this work point out a facet of Jesus’ life we don’t often consider. Even though Jesus’ life might have appeared ordinary from the outset, He was still an extraordinary Being. He wasn’t just your average kid down the street.
Thoughts on Jesus’ childhood
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas depicts the following scenarios in Jesus’ childhood:
- Turning play birds into real sparrows
- Cursing the son of an individual who questioned His actions on the Sabbath day
- Cursing a careless child
- A confrontation with Joseph (I will speak on this shortly)
- Confrontation with a teacher who later repents
- Raising a child from the dead
- Healing a woodcutter
- Carrying water in His cloak
There are others, but the gist is obvious from these examples. The author (or authors) of the work depicts Jesus as a miracle working Savior from the time He was young. Is this true?
The truth is, we don’t really know. It’s possible, but it’s also possible these were specific legends gathered together, stories used to prove Jesus was Savior throughout His life. Whether His childhood was this interesting is of question. There’s one point of the story, however, that I would say probably resonates with some level of truth. That’s His relationship with Joseph.
An extraordinary child
And Joseph said to Jesus, “Why do you say such things, and they suffer and hate us?”
And the child said to Joseph, “Since you know wise words, you’re not ignorant of where they came from; /they were spoken about a five-year-old. They won’t be raised, and these will receive their punishment.”
Immediately those accusing Him became blind.
And Joseph took His (Jesus’) ear and pulled hard.
And Jesus said to Him, “It’s enough for you seek and find Me, and not, beyond that, to scourge me by having taken on a natural ignorance. You haven’t clearly seen Me, why I’m yours. Look! I’ve been subdued before you.” (Infancy Gospel of Thomas 5:1-3)
When parents are confronted with an extraordinary child, they often don’t know how to handle them. I suspect Jesus and Joseph were probably antithetical at points of His life. Jesus wasn’t His biological child, and in the world they lived in, this would forever be an issue. There were probably times when Mary and Joseph weren’t sure what to do with Jesus. Even if He seemed as ordinary as they came on the surface, He wasn’t. He might not have gone around performing miracles constantly, but there were always things about Him that were different.
Treasuring things in her heart
The Scriptures tell us that Mary treasured the moments she had with Jesus. Whether it was as a newborn baby or at His presentation in the temple, she relished the ordinary things she got to do with Him. Jesus’ childhood was probably an interesting time for all involved, and it was a time where those involved in His life cherished the things they were able to experience.
For us, we should treasure the things we know of Jesus’s life, even if we don’t know everything. Along with the extraordinary, we should treasure the ordinary, as well. Whether performing miracles or learning Joseph’s trade, Jesus was still Jesus. For each of us, that should be the final answer.
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