Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

The bible reference for this question is Luke 2:52 "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke, the writer of this gospel applies these words to Jesus's life before he started his public ministry, during the years he was growing up in Nazareth.

We know very little about Jesus life as recorded in the scriptures, before Jesus began his public ministry. His father Joseph was a carpenter and Jesus trained under him, and became a carpenter himself.

Luke records one event in Jesus boyhood when he was 12 years old and his family went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. We can read about this in Luke 2:41-50. This 12 year old boy stayed at the temple for 3 days sitting in the temple courts among the teachers of the law [the university professors of the Jewish faith], listening to them and asking them questions. Luke records that "Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers."

Jesus studied the scriptures from infancy and new them very well indeed. Jesus never attended a rabbinical training school but he became a self-taught [Holy Spirit taught] rabbi and teacher.

We know a lot about Jesus from the total revelation given to us in the whole bible and we can infer how he grew in wisdom and stature and favor from this general knowledge.

1. Jesus is the Son of God, who laid his power, authority, honour and glory aside in heaven to become a human being. Jesus was the most humble man who ever lived and that is very appealing to everyone.

2. Jesus was born by the virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, so he didn't have a sinful human nature. Jesus was completely pure and righteous. He never committed a single sin in his whole life. Holiness is a very attractive quality that is very appealing to everyone.

3. Jesus studied the scriptures from infancy so he would understand everything written about himself; so he would understand the nature and character of his Father in heaven completely; so Jesus would understand his Father's plan and purpose for his life and death completely; so Jesus would understand our human condition [our struggle against evil and wickedness] completely. This wisdom completely amazed everyone because he never went to Rabbinical training school, and this wisdom was very appealing and attractive to everyone.

4. Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are, yet he was without sin. Jesus was tempted all the time while he was growing up, yet he never responded to these temptation by giving in to sin. This holy and righteous lifestyle stood out spectacularly because no one else could live like that. Jesus brought justice, righteousness, love and faithfulness [the pillars of the kingdom of God] into our world, and these beliefs and practices were demonstrated by Jesus in all his growing up years. The kingdom of God is very appealing to all people and they saw it present in Jesus life.

5. Jesus’ entire life, from infancy, was spent surrendered to the will of his Father in heaven, focused on preparing himself for his public ministry and for completing God's plan to save the whole world from our sins. Everything Jesus said and did, gave glory to his Father in heaven. This devotion to his faith was very appealing to everyone because every believing Jew hungers for this kind of faith.

The God-man Jesus who we see appearing in the first pages of the gospel accounts of his life, had prepared himself very well for his mission, and this zeal was very attractive to everyone who knew him. The child and then young man was acting like a seasoned and trained spiritual leader of his Jewish faith.

February 24 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report