And the child grew and became strong and full of wisdom, and the favour of God rested upon Him.
Now His parents used to go up year by year to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover.
The Jewish Passover was coming near, and many from that district went up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
Now just before the Feast of the Passover this incident took place. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father; and having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
But the Jewish Passover was approaching, and for this Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
The Jewish Festival, the Passover, was at hand.