Daily Journal: 25 December

What Jesus Was Like Growing Up

It’s nice to think about Jesus growing up. The bible says so little about him during those years that if we want to understand what he was like, how he handled himself and how he was with people, we have to consider what the few sentences we have mean. Plus one other very important scripture.

Luke 2:39-40 (NLT)

When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favour was on him.

Luke 2:51-52 (NLT)

Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and all the people.

Let's elaborate.

Jesus grew in wisdom - that means, with understanding and insight. He could read people and was discerning. He was well-regarded. He had good relationships. He was admired and spoke well. He was respectable and respected. He was obedient and listened to his parents. He was physically strong and healthy which meant He ate well and was active. As He was the eldest of other siblings He would have helped with them and looked after them. He took time to be quiet and developed a deep and intimate understanding of the scriptures. He observed Mary and Joseph doing so (because they observed the law), possibly discussing them together. He understood the Holy Spirit lived inside Him and He knew who the Holy Spirit was; He knew He was the Son of God and began to refer to God as His Father since He was twelve.

Luke 2:43,46-49 (NLT)

After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it….Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” [Or “Didn’t you realize that I should be involved with my Father’s affairs?]” But they didn’t understand what he meant.

Did Jesus know they didn’t understand? Nevertheless, he went home with them and was obedient to his parents, submitting Himself to them. Jesus demonstrated patience in this, and humility. His level of maturity was well beyond His years.

Together, these observations illustrate a young man who was loving, peaceful, patient, kind, a good boy, gentle, and self-controlled. Those characteristics describe the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere in the bible He is also described as having the last two virtues, joyful and faithful.

John 15:11 (ESV)

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full".

John 14:31 (NCV)

but the world must know that I love the Father, so I do exactly what the Father told me to do.

We see the fruit that was produced in Jesus, demonstrated His intimacy with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 (GNT)

But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility [gentleness], and self-control. There is no law against such things as these.

Our understanding of Jesus’ character, even as he grew, can be seen in the way the bible describes God Himself.

John 1:1 (NLT)

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Revelation 11:15 (CJB)

The seventh angel sounded his shofar; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever!”