>This is a simple one...and one
>that my younger cousin asked
>me just last week:
>
>In the Bible, the miracles surrounding
>Christ's birth are discussed.
>That is followed by a
>very brief mention of Christ's
>childhood, and how at the
>age of 12 he was
>have serious dicsussions with Rabbi's
>and priests and how everyone
>thought he was such a
>bright and brilliant child. (See:
>Luke 2:40-48)
>
>Fast Forward: The next thing we
>hear about Christ is about
>things he was doing at
>the age of 30 or
>so. So my question
>is: where was Jesus during
>his youth? Why is there
>no mention of it in
>the Bible, since they even
>documented his birth and very
>early youth?
>
>I have heard the argument that
>he was not doing anything
>special, and was just doing
>carpenter work with his father,
>but this argument doesn't stick
>very well since it says
>in the Bible that he
>was debating with Rabbi's at
>the age of 12.
>Why would be debating with
>them at 12, but
>then just quit for 18
>years to just do carpenter
>work? Do these people
>believe that Jesus did nothing
>worth mentioning for 18 years?

Response: Hopefully you can respect this answer, but the bible says that he was subject to his parents and increased in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and Man (Luke 2:52). The quick and dirty is this, as a youth, Jesus lacked the credibility needed to make his ministry effective because he was a kid, though he had the ability. Remember, people didn't know he was the Messiah at that time, so there was no basis of respect. As far as his travels, I'm not sure. But the "normal" things that he did for those 18 years prepared him for ministry, as many of his natural skills, including fishing helped him reach people (how did he reach Peter, John, and James?) That's about the most practical response I can give.

Apocalypse

"When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable . . ."