Asbury Bible Commentary – E. The Boyhood of Jesus (2:41-52)
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E. The Boyhood of Jesus (2:41-52)

E. The Boyhood of Jesus (2:41-52)

In words similar to those used to describe both Samuel and John the Baptist, Luke describes the growth of Jesus (vv.40, 52; see note on 1:80). He also records the only story in the Bible about Jesus' boyhood. The occasion may have been the preparation for his bar mitzvah a year later, when he would be initiated as a “son of the commandment” and assume the responsibilities of an adult. The story tells of Jesus' spiritual insight and the tension in his relationship with Mary and Joseph. In his first recorded words Jesus speaks of God as Father (v.49). While Mary, like Joseph, failed to understand Jesus (v.50), she pondered and treasured the memory of these events in her heart (vv.19, 51).