Jesus' childhood

“Why were you searching for Me?’ He asked, ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?” Luke 2:49
This passage in Luke 2 is the only record we are given of Jesus as a child. He was twelve years old, and his family had gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When they returned to Galilee, He remained behind without them knowing it. After a day’s journey, his family realised He was not with them. Then they returned to Jerusalem and found Him after three days – in the Temple, talking with the teachers of the law.
Even at the age of twelve, Jesus knew Who He was. His response to His mother Mary was respectful, but also containing a mild rebuke: “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?”
She had asked Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You” (Luke 2:48). The issue with this was, of course, that Joseph was not Jesus’ father. His Father knew exactly where He was.