Significance of Jesus' age of 12?

Is there any significance of Luke mentioning Jesus' age of 12 other than a simple history dating? I was thinking that maybe since it was one year before the modern Bar Mitzvah (son of commandment -- one to whom the Law now applies. And if I got the meaning of Bar Mitzvah wrong, please correct me.) that it had something special to do with it. I read that the year of the Bar Mitzvah was changed from 20 to 13 in the Talmudic era, so maybe it's nothing. If anyone has anything I'd really like to know.

Luke 2:41-52 NASB:

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Is there any significance of Luke mentioning Jesus' age of 12 other than a simple history dating? I was thinking that maybe since it was one year before the modern Bar Mitzvah (son of commandment -- one to whom the Law now applies. And if I got the meaning of Bar Mitzvah wrong, please correct me.) that it had something special to do with it. I read that the year of the Bar Mitzvah was changed from 20 to 13 in the Talmudic era, so maybe it's nothing. If anyone has anything I'd really like to know.

Luke 2:41-52 NASB:
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;
46 Then after three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

For a history of the Bar Mitzvah, read the Wikipedia article here.

IIRC, a boy became a man at the first signs of puberty in ancient times. This would vary probably from person to person. In order to be counted for a minyan, (group of ten men needed for public prayer) you had to have reached puberty.

These days, at his Bar Mitzvah a boy is allowed to read publicly from the Torah and will often give a commentary. It seems quite plausible that this was going on with Jesus in the episode you mention. The gospel indicates that the elders were astonished with his answers. Perhaps they were responding to his commentary.