The reason we think little about Jesus' boyhood is that it seems so ordinary. But that is the very reason we should study it, for that is when his humanity is most clearly seen. His spiritual development was in the context of a religious family. Since he was 'made under the Law' he has sympathy with us as we try to keep God's commands. The Law was his source of comfort as well as instruction, as it should be to us also. The incident in the Temple suggests it was his Bar Mitzvah, and he understands us when we realise we are personally responsible to God. His awareness of being the Son of God was apparent, and led to ever-greater acts of obedience. We see his social development as he lived in obedience to his mother and Joseph (even though they were merely human, and did not understand him). What an example to Christian families! He went to through all the stages of childhood and adolescence. Later on he experienced the world of work. In all these things he was developing and sympathetic understanding for us in our struggles, and was fulfilling the Law of God on our behalf.
