Jesus, the missing years or the Nazareth homeboy

This came up in our small group recently. What did Jesus do from the time he was a twelve year old at the temple, until he began his earthly ministry?

A close reading of the New Testament will reveal that Jesus was most likely a Nazareth homeboy. True, there are about 18 years which are mentioned little in the New Testament. But, looking at other evidence we come to the most likely conclusion that he spent those 18 years in Nazareth.

When his family, all Jewish, did what was required of their law regarding a newborn they went "to their own town of Nazareth."(Luke 2:39) In order to further fulfill what was required of their ritual law, when Jesus was 12 he went with the family to Jerusalem for Passover (Luke 2:42). On the return trip, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem to talk with the teachers of the Law in the temple. (Luke 2:46) When his parents found him they returned to Nazareth and he was obedient to them (Luke 2:51) Obedience here means a habitual, ongoing obedience implying an ongoing action (that of being with his family in Nazareth).

Another clue we have which leads us to believe he was in Nazareth during the 18 years is the response of the local people when Jesus comes to town teaching in the synagogue. When he shows up at the synagogue in Nazareth - "his hometown" (Matthew 13:54) and begins to say some things which are challenging to the townspeople they reply "Isn't this Joseph's son?" (Luke 4:22) and "isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother Mary?"(Matthew 13:55) It seems very clear they knew him and recognized him. If he had been gone for the 18 years (or a part thereof) he would probably be less recognizable to them.

Additionally, we could consider other factors about the time he lived. Carpenters were not extremely wealthy. They were working class people. Traveling to Asia, India, and other places he allegedly visited would have required a considerable amount of wealth. Also, he would have been traveling among the gentile populations who were very idolatrous. Hebrew people - like Jesus - did not associate with gentiles and were forbidden from idolatry.

Furthermore, Jesus' teachings recorded in the New Testament Gospels show a belief system which is ultimately theistic - meaning belief in a personal all powerful deity. Asian, Indian, and all other Eastern Religions are basically monistic - meaning one impersonal element constitutes reality.

So, basing a conclusion on the evidence we do have, rather than basing our conclusion on evidence we don't have, I'd say Jesus was a Nazareth homeboy until he began his public ministry.