What is the explanation for this programme executing?

Question

Having learnt that code runs left to right and from top to bottom. How is it this code works when the method is called before it has been declared?

class Program {

public static void main(String[ ] args) {
int res = max(7, 42);
System.out.println(res);
}

static int max(int a, int b) {
if(a > b) {
return a;
}
else {
return b;
}
}
}