Why did Joseph and Mary take one day's time to realize that Jesus had been left behind at the Temple?

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Why did Joseph and Mary take one day's time to realize that Jesus had been left behind at the Temple?

As they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. (Luke 2:43-44)

The answer is quite simple as Miles Flett explains. In fact Blessed Catherine Emmerich mentions this episode in the life of the Child Jesus.

In those first visits, Jesus had already excited attention in Jerusalem among the friends with whom He and His parents stayed, also among the priests and doctors. They spoke of the pious, intelligent Child, of Joseph's extraordinary Son, just as amongst us one might, at the annual pilgrimages, notice in par­ticular this or that modest, holy-looking person, this or that clever peasant child, and recognize him again the next year. So Jesus had already some acquain­tances in the city when, in His twelfth year, with their friends and their sons, He accompanied His parents to Jerusalem. His parents were accustomed to walk with the people from their own part of the country, and they knew that Jesus, who now made the journey for the fifth time, always went with the other youths from Nazareth.

But this time Jesus had, on the return journey not far from the Mount of Olives, separated from His companions, who all thought that He had joined His parents who were following. Jesus had, however, gone to that side of Jerusalem nearest to Bethlehem, to the inn at which the Holy Family before Mary's Purifi­cation had put up. Mary and Joseph thought Him on ahead with the other Nazarenes, while these lat­ter thought that He was following with His parents. - Catherine Emmerich, 30. The Holy Family at Nazareth. Jesus at the Age of Twelve in The Temple of Jerusalem (page 325)

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(As this is tagged Catholicism) Catholics don't believe that everything in the Bible is to be taken entirely literally. It could have been 3 actual days; it might not have been. However, it foreshadows Jesus' death and Resurrection. He disappeared for 3 days (in His tomb) and on the third day reappeared.

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Luke 2:43-44--and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

As DJClayworth mentioned in his comment above, it may well have been assumed that he was with them There's no evidence that His parents even questioned His being in the caravan. He would have been among relatives and acquaintances and there would be very little reason for them to believe He was elsewhere.

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