Bloch tells two stories in one tall panel. Up the temple steps, the boy Jesus sits among the teachers, calm and listening. At the bottom right, Mary in blue and Joseph have just found Him after three days of searching.

Between them sits another boy, on the steps, with a cage of doves beside him. Doves were bought in the temple for offerings. He turns to look up at Mary, and his ordinary face helps us see how young Jesus really was.