Section 11
feast." At the age of twelve, a boy was called by the Jews "son of the law," and first incurred legal obligation (Alford). The number twelve also sig nifies eternal perfection in God's administration. Hence, "twelve years old" indicates that what the Lord did here was perfectly related to God's ad ministration.
This verse says that they went up "according to the custom of the feast." This custom was or dained by God for one to be a legal male in Is rael (Deut. 16:16).
According to verses 43 through 48, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know it. When they realized that He was not with them in the caravan, they re turned to Jerusalem searching for Him. When they found Him, His mother said to Him, "Child, why did You treat us like this? Behold, Your father and I are greatly distressed seeking You" (v. 48). The Lord replied, "Why is it that you were seeking Me? Did you not know that I must be in the things of My Father?" (v. 49). This indicates that the boy Jesus was caring for the interests of God. The words "My Father" in verse 49 point to the deity of the boy Jesus (John 5:18). In His humanity He was the son of His parents; in His deity He was the Son of God the Father.