41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year
at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And
when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom
of the feast. 43 When
they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in
Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the
company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives
and acquaintances. 45 So
when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that
after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at
His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw
Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this
to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about
My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not
understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Commentary
Vs. 41-45 41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year
at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And
when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom
of the feast. 43 When
they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in
Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the
company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives
and acquaintances. 45 So
when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
During the course of His early life, Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem (as was required of every male Jew under the Law) every year to observe the Passover Feast (vs. 1, see Deut. 16:1-16; Lev. 23 etc.). Now when Jesus became twelve years of age, He also went with them as this was customary for all Jewish boys to do as this was their first introduction into the Israelite community as young men (vs. 42). And so, when they had finished the days of the Feast, they returned, however the Boy Jesus lingered, that is He remained behind in Jerusalem. And they supposing that Jesus was within the company of their relatives, and the people they were travelling with sought Him amongst them. However, when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem seeking Him (vs, 43-45). Now it must be remembered by us that families then were not just immediate kin, (i.e. dad and mom and their children) but very often relatives and even neighbors played important roles in the rearing of each others children. Therefore, more than likely in their traveling caravan, there would have been much intermingling amongst each other. And so, it is very easy to see how they could have easily mistaken that Jesus was within a group of young boys (now considered young men) returning from the Passover Feast for the first time, before they realized He was missing.
Vs. 46 “Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”
Having returned to Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary begin searching for the Boy Jesus, and so it was that after three days they find Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. Quite unlike what most distressed parents would think they would find when they find their missing child after three days missing, likely finding them hungry, disheveled, and distressed. Instead they find Jesus sitting amongst the teachers in the Temple, both listening and asking them questions.
Vs. 47-50 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Now all who heard Jesus were astonished at His understanding and answers (vs. 47), Jesus then was displaying a Spiritually mature intellect not often seen. Even Jesus’ parents could scarcely believe that He had so much understanding, and that during those three days He was missing here He now sits in the Temple looking no worse for wear, but rather He looks right at home amongst Israel’s brightest teachers, looking and acting years beyond His age. Mary then not knowing what to say about all of this now tentatively rebukes Jesus by saying to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” Vs. 48 Now Jesus’ response, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” is not His being disrespectful, it is His declaring His God given purpose which He is thus intending to fulfill. For even at that early age Jesus is fully aware that He is the Son of God and that God His Father has given Him His purpose to fulfill. Therefore, Jesus says He must be about His Father’s business. Something which neither Mary nor Joseph then understood (vs. 50). For in their eyes they were looking at their young Son, but in Jesus’ eyes, having appeared before the Lord to keep His Passover in the Temple in Jerusalem, He had now graduated into Israelite manhood, and thus He was now ready to do and fulfill His Fathers’ Will. However, as we will see, God His Father’s timing for Him to accomplish His Divine Purpose was not just yet.
Commentary
During the course of His early life, Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem (as was required of every male Jew under the Law) every year to observe the Passover Feast (vs. 1, see Deut. 16:1-16; Lev. 23 etc.). Now when Jesus became twelve years of age, He also went with them as this was customary for all Jewish boys to do as this was their first introduction into the Israelite community as young men (vs. 42). And so, when they had finished the days of the Feast, they returned, however the Boy Jesus lingered, that is He remained behind in Jerusalem. And they supposing that Jesus was within the company of their relatives, and the people they were travelling with sought Him amongst them. However, when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem seeking Him (vs, 43-45). Now it must be remembered by us that families then were not just immediate kin, (i.e. dad and mom and their children) but very often relatives and even neighbors played important roles in the rearing of each others children. Therefore, more than likely in their traveling caravan, there would have been much intermingling amongst each other. And so, it is very easy to see how they could have easily mistaken that Jesus was within a group of young boys (now considered young men) returning from the Passover Feast for the first time, before they realized He was missing.
Vs. 46 “Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”
Having returned to Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary begin searching for the Boy Jesus, and so it was that after three days they find Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. Quite unlike what most distressed parents would think they would find when they find their missing child after three days missing, likely finding them hungry, disheveled, and distressed. Instead they find Jesus sitting amongst the teachers in the Temple, both listening and asking them questions.
Vs. 47-50 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Now all who heard Jesus were astonished at His understanding and answers (vs. 47), Jesus then was displaying a Spiritually mature intellect not often seen. Even Jesus’ parents could scarcely believe that He had so much understanding, and that during those three days He was missing here He now sits in the Temple looking no worse for wear, but rather He looks right at home amongst Israel’s brightest teachers, looking and acting years beyond His age. Mary then not knowing what to say about all of this now tentatively rebukes Jesus by saying to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” Vs. 48 Now Jesus’ response, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” is not His being disrespectful, it is His declaring His God given purpose which He is thus intending to fulfill. For even at that early age Jesus is fully aware that He is the Son of God and that God His Father has given Him His purpose to fulfill. Therefore, Jesus says He must be about His Father’s business. Something which neither Mary nor Joseph then understood (vs. 50). For in their eyes they were looking at their young Son, but in Jesus’ eyes, having appeared before the Lord to keep His Passover in the Temple in Jerusalem, He had now graduated into Israelite manhood, and thus He was now ready to do and fulfill His Fathers’ Will. However, as we will see, God His Father’s timing for Him to accomplish His Divine Purpose was not just yet.
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version. (1982): Thomas Nelson
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