“After three days,
They found him
In the Temple.
He was
Sitting among
The teachers,
Listening to them
And asking them questions.”
καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ἡμέρας τρεῖς εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καθεζόμενον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν διδασκάλων καὶ ἀκούοντα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπερωτῶντα αὐτούς·
Good news! Luke said that Joseph and Mary found Jesus after 3 days (καὶ ἐγένετο μετὰ ἡμέρας τρεῖς). That probably means that he was found on the 3rd day since they traveled one day out and one day back on their journey. These 3 days will play an important role in the resurrection story, because Jesus will rise from the dead after 3 days. Thus, the distress of these parents will be like the distress of the disciples of Jesus after his death. The parents of Jesus found him in the Temple (εὗρον αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ), just like the women who found the empty tomb on the 3rd day. Jesus, the 12-year-old was sitting in the middle or among the Temple masters or teachers (καθεζόμενον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν διδασκάλων), experts in the Jewish religion and traditions. He was both listening to them (καὶ ἀκούοντα αὐτῶν) and asking them questions (καὶ ἐπερωτῶντα αὐτούς). Nothing had been mentioned about his prior schooling in Nazareth, if there was any. Had he been trained at the local synagogue in Nazareth?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 