Growing up like Jesus
Luke 2:39-52
Growing up sensibly
Lost in the crowd
Last week, we noted how Jesus’ parents respected Jewish Law. They continued to do this in Nazareth, and so made the annual pilgrimage to the Passover in Jerusalem. Luke 2:42 recalls such a visit when Jesus was twelve years old.
Listening and learning
As the week of festivities came to an end, people would return home in convoys. Older children travelled with their parents or with other relatives or friends. Joseph and Mary assumed Jesus was with another group. This comes out in v44 when it says, “Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. They then began to look for Jesus among their relatives and friends.” Realising that he was not with them, they would now have to wait for the next day before returning to Jerusalem. It was then a further day’s journey. This is why v46 says, “After three days they found him in the temple courts.”
After a religious feast, those interested stayed behind to discuss theology and related issues. In v46, we see that Jesus is amongst them—listening and asking questions. Verse 47 says, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” The same Jesus, who is listening and learning in Luke 2, taught later that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind.
Loving God with our mind
To develop thinking in the church and elsewhere, we need to stimulate our own minds. This is not easy in a world of tweets, texts, and television. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “We should put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and be renewed in our minds. We should put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” To be like God, in this context, is to be transformed into his likeness as Romans 12:2 says… by the renewing of our mind. We should then use our renewed minds in fellowship and worship and then apply this at home, at school, at work, and in the community. This is what it means to grow sensibly, and it should then lead to…
Growing up spiritually
His parents are astonished
On returning to Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary looked all over for Jesus. They then found him with some theological heavyweights in the temple courts. Verse 48 says, “When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said, “Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for you.”
Busy with the things of God
Where would you begin looking for a twelve-year old? Would you begin at the Fellowship Group, the Prayer Meeting, or in the Pastor’s Office? Somehow, we don’t expect to find young people in places like this. We should challenge this view. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
Responding to his earthly parents in v49, Jesus said, “Did you not know I had to be involved in the affairs of my Father?” These are the first recorded words of Jesus and fulfil Psalm 40:8, which says: “I delight to do your will my God; your law is deep within my heart.” This was his priority and it should be ours too.
Spiritually minded people
But Jesus was the Son of God, you say. Yes, but as the Son of Man, he is our example and we should not underestimate our own spiritual capacity or the spiritual capacity of God to change us. 2 Timothy 3:15 says that from infancy we can know the Holy Scriptures, which can make us wise into salvation.
Children spend about thirty hours a week at school to prepare for a position in this world. Are we just as committed to preparing our children for a position in the world to come? We can do this by reading the Bible with our children, praying with them, and talking to them about God and his ways. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “God’s word should be upon our heart. We should then impress this word on our children. We should talk about it when we sit at home and when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we rise.” In this way, God’s word can be a relevant part of our life as we grow spiritually. This should then lead to…
Growing up sociably
Jesus knew who he was
We struggle during infancy, through puberty, at high school, and when starting work. Some continue to struggle for identity into their thirties and forties and beyond. There was, however, no identity crisis for Jesus. Jesus knew who he was, he knew what he was doing here, and he knew where he was going. Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus grew in wisdom, in maturity, and in favour with God and with people.” This expands on v40, which says: “Jesus grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.”
Jesus matured
The word maturity in v52 is translated stature in some versions. It means to reach one’s peak. With our unique personality and temperament, and our distinct gifts and abilities, we all write our own history. In this way, we fulfil God’s purpose in the world. This is why Proverbs 22:6 says we should train children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not turn from it.
Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus grew in favour with God and with people.” A more literal translation says Jesus grew in grace alongside God and he grew in grace alongside people. He grew in grace alongside his parents; he grew in grace alongside his siblings; he grew in grace alongside his relatives; he grew in grace alongside his neighbours; he grew in grace alongside his peers. Jesus grew socially and so should we.
Contributing to the reservoir
If we do not grow socially, we will become demanding consumers of the resources rather than democratic contributors to the reservoir. In contrast, Jesus grew in wisdom, he grew in maturity, and he grew in favour with God and with people.
Bernard Cartledge