41 And his parents went yearly to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. v.41 Yearly Journey to Jerusalem. We find that Mary and Joseph, called “His parents” even though Joseph was not His Father, were consistent in their conviction to go up to Jerusalem for the Passover, according to the law of Moses (Deut. 16:16). This accounts for why Mary and Joseph were down in the region of Jerusalem when the Lord was two years old in Matthew 2, when the Magi came to the house (not a stable), to worship and offer gifts. The trip was a yearly exercise, and the Lord Jesus went along with His mother and Joseph in it, and later when He left home, we see Jesus making the same journey. How wonderful when godly habits of parents are picked up by their believing children and made personal.

 

42 And when he was twelve years old, and they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast v.42 Twelve Years of Age. Why twelve years of age? That is an age between childhood and manhood, and age where the mind opens up, and special interests and hobbies are followed. What characterized the Lord at that pivotal age was interest in His Father’s business. Even a twelve-year-old can be about the Father’s business, and one thing it includes is an interest in the Word of God.

 

43 and had completed the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents knew not of it; 44 but, supposing him to be in the company that journeyed together, they went a day’s journey, and sought him among their relations and acquaintances: 45 and not having found him they returned to Jerusalem seeking him. vv.43-45 Searching. They looked for Jesus first in their caravan among the relatives. There was a higher interest than family. Then three days searching in the city (v.46). Nothing among all the commerce and attractions of that place had held the young Jesus. It was His Father’s business, and they ought to have known.

Application. As an application of this, we too can go a while without the company of the Lord. Confession is needed, tracing the sin to its roots, returning to the point of departure. They went one day away, but it took them three days to find the Lord. The road back is longer.

 

46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and hearing them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. vv.46-47 In the Temple. He who knew everything took the place of a learner. In our day the youngest ones don’t know what it is to listen, and learn. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back” (Isa. 50:4-5). The questions of Jesus was not Him challenging the authority of the doctors of the law. He was asking honest, intelligent questions. They were astonished at His understanding, even in His intelligent questions. The teachers in turn asked Jesus questions, and were astonished at His answers! This is the right order, and very fitting, especially for a person of that age. The knowledge and wisdom that gave rise to these questions and answers was not the Lord – if we can so speak – reaching into the resources of Divine omniscience, but rather that which developed in Him as a perfect man (v.52).

 

48 And when they saw him they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Child, why hast thou dealt thus with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee distressed. 49 And he said to them, Why is it that ye have sought me? did ye not know that I ought to be occupied in my Father’s business? vv.48-49 Seeking Him. Mary and Joseph were amazed at what they saw and heard. But amazement was followed by a mother’s rebuke. In saying “child”, that would have hurt Him as least somewhat. His answer to Mary was not lashing out in retaliation. Without getting out of His place as a twelve-year-old boy, Jesus answers with a question that was a gentle correction of Mary, and yet upheld His Father’s glory. His rebuke was really for searching. They ought to have known that the only interest that would have pulled Him from their company was that which was for the Father’s glory. Neither family nor idle curiosity could do this. He says “My Father”, highlighting that His true Father was God. What wonderful words were these, the first recorded words of Jesus; “did ye not know that I ought to be occupied in my Father’s business?” His last recorded words before death were, “It is finished” (John 19:30), “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). His entire life is book-ended by that one, singular goal: to accomplish His Father’s business. “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:7-8).

 

50 And they understood not the thing that he said to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was in subjection to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart. vv.50-51 Reaction and Return. Neither Mary nor Joseph understood the Lord’s reply in the moment. Joseph seems to have moved on from it, while Mary stored it up (sayings, plural”, there may have been many other similar instances) and cherished them in her heart. There was no resentment from the blessed Lord Jesus; “he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was in subjection to them”. Subjection is more than obedience; it implies a submission of will as well as actions. 

 

52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men. v.52 Increase. The Lord Jesus continued to grow, increasing in all these things. He increased in “wisdom” or intellectually, in “stature” or physically, in “favor with God” or spiritually, and in “favor with man” or socially! He was perfectly balanced in this growth. Thus we see His perfection in each stage, growth and development. He was perfect at every instant, and yet always growing and maturing. Sitting in the temple asking the doctors of the law questions would not have been appropriate for a young child, nor would it have been appropriate as a full grown man, but it was perfectly suitable to a boy of twelve years! Without this development He wouldn’t have been a perfect man. Yet, how can we reconcile this “development” with His being the eternal, infinite, Divine Son of God? We cannot reconcile both in our feeble minds, and yet both are true! Think of increasing in favor with God! Every act of submission and obedience to God through each phase of development was fresh cause for God’s pleasure in Him. Like the “fine flour” of the meal offering (Lev. 2), there were no imperfections in Him! The eighteen years from twelve to thirty are passed over, hidden from us. But the richness of those years was still there for God’s delight. And it will be part of the “hidden manna” (Rev. 2:17) that we will enjoy for eternity!