1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

During a considerable part of the time of the PassoverFeast the great men of His nation were engaged in publicfunctions, and hence His best opportunity for conferencewith them was at the close of the feast, and then as Hecould gain their attention--coming time and again withnew questions, with fresh inquiries about other types andsymbols and their proper meaning.When the time came for the return journey He hadnot finished His investigations of the Scripture teachingson this point. His parents, thinking that He was in thecompany with some of their relatives, went a day's journeyhomeward before they ascertained that He was not inthe company. Then they returned, journeying anotherday, and the third day they found Him in the templewith the learned men discussing the question which toHim was the all-important one of the hour--the time atwhich public ministry might be begun, according to theLaw. Evidently He had just finished His quest and foundas His satisfactory answer that, although a boy at twelvebecame amenable to the Law, none could enter upon ateaching or preaching service until thirty years of age.This matter had evidently been settled just prior to thearrival of His parents.Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, said nothing, allowinghis wife, Mary, to chide Jesus with having been negligentof His duty toward them--causing them trouble,grief, annoyance by not coming promptly with them onthe return journey. The words of Jesus may be paraphrasedthus: Did you not know that I was twelve yearsof age; was it not your understanding that I had reachedthe time when I must become a son of the Law? Did younot know that this might mean to me some great responsibilityin connection with my service of the HeavenlyR4958 : page 31Father? Did you not forewarn me that such responsibilitieswere to be looked for by myself and that I must bediligent to accomplish my mission? Why, then, may Iask, should you be surprised and disappointed in findingthat I had tarried behind you? Did it not occur to youthat as a son of the Law I might have responsibilities atthis time and that I must use every opportunity to beabout my Father's business--to do whatever work I shouldfind He has appointed for me? But now I will give youno further trouble. I have ascertained through study andconference with the Doctors of the Law that there isnothing that I can do as a minor in the way of beginningthe Father's service. I am therefore ready to return withyou to our home, and I assure you that I shall be as loyaland obedient to you as heretofore and that my apparentneglect of your wishes in the present instance was merelybecause I supposed that you knew that I would be lookingout for my Heavenly Father's business and my privilegesin connection with it, and that you would therefore notbe necessarily expecting me to return home at this time.