I guess I am still wondering when He found out. We say life begins at conception. Did He know when He was conceived? When He was in the womb? Was it at birth?
I think at some point He had an inkling that there was something special but I don't know that He fully comprehended it.
Here is a quote from a discussion I was having with a pastor.
You bring up some good points. I think the key word you used here is “inkling.” Did Jesus have an inkling- even at age 12- that He was someone unique, and maybe even had a nature unlike anyone else? Sure, He would have had to have an inkling. But my point is that He was not fully aware at that point who He really was, and what that meant.
Let me give you another argument. If you look at the rest of the story there in Luke 2, it says that He went back to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph, and was obedient to them. If Jesus knew, at this point, that He was God, then why even bother going back with Mary and Joseph, and why the need to obey them. Now you might say, “Because a 12 year old is not old enough to be on his own. He needs his parents to both shelter him and teach him about life.” Very true, but if Jesus already knows He is God, then what on earth would He needs anyone’s help for, and why would one who knew He was God willingly submit to obeying mere humans. He wouldn’t need them at all.
It also says that, after they returned from Jerusalem , He grew in wisdom. But if He knows He is God, then wouldn’t He already have all wisdom? Why would He need to grow and develop anymore. He is God. God doesn’t need to improve or to learn more. But again, Jesus was God willingly limiting Himself. Part of that limitation meant that when He was 12 He would only have the mental capability and comprehension of a 12 year old- albeit, a 12 year old prodigy.