The Young Jesus

The Young Jesus:

There is not much written concerning Jesus as a young boy. What I have attempted to do is examine particular Greek word in the few verses that speak of our Lord’s youth. The Greek words may give us a clearer insight to what has been revealed. I will give you the information, and you may draw your own conclusions.

Jesus at the age of 30, came forth publicly as a prophet, this was His introduction to the public. Before this age, the law did not permit a man to enter into the public ministry.

2. Luke 2:40, “And the child GREW, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.”

A. “Grew:” Jesus grew in his body, being in perfect health. He was endowed in His reasoning, agreeable and opposed to the absurd, also to “grow,”

B. “Grow.” To receive increase, to grow, to grow up, here it is in the Active form. The above words are used in Scriptures in the following way,

a. Matthew 6:28, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they GROW.”

b. Mark 4:8, “And other (seed) fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and INCREASED.”

c. Luke 13:19, “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it GREW, and waxed a great tree.”

“He (Jesus) waxed strong in spirit.”

Waxed in the Greek, Passive, expressing action, or the effect of an action of some agent. To be strong, to grow strong in His rational mind, His soul, his thoughts were for the things of His Father in heaven.

“He was filled with wisdom.”

Metonymically, meaning to put one work for another. Jesus as the author and source of this wisdom, was joined as one with wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

Christ was as one, joined in the same office with wisdom, purity of heart and life.

The Wisdom said of Christ is used in the N.T. in the following ways,

1. James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

2. James 3:13, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation (conduct) his works with meekness of wisdom.”

3. James 3:17, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

“And the grace of God (the Father) was upon Him.” Grace as in disposition, feeling towards any one, as in favor, kindness, good-will, benevolence. The grace of God found in Christ is used in the following ways,

Exodus 33:12, The LORD said to Moses, “I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.”

Acts 4:33, “With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all.”

Acts 7:10, Speaking of Joseph in Egypt, God, “Delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour (grace) and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh.”

3. Luke 2:42, “When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.”

At the age of 12, every Jewish boy was styled, “a son of the law,” and was obliged to appear before the LORD at the three public festivals.

1. The feast of unleavened bread,
2. The feast of weeks;
3. And the feast of tabernacles.”

One can only imagine the thoughts of our Lord at this period of His life. We know He loved the people and the house of God.

Psalms 26:8, “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth.”

At His first visit into the city and temple area, if we had been with Him we may have heard Him pray the Father,

1. Psalms 42:1, “As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”

2. Psalms 87:2, “The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.”

3. Psalms 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

We hear no words from Him during the eight days of the feast, but we can imagine the thoughts of His young heart as He saw the great city lay before Him.

1. Psalms 48:2, “Beautiful for situation (in elevation) the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”

2. Psalms 50:2, “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.”

Also at the age to twelve, all male children were to begin to learn a trade.

4. Luke 2:46-47, “After three days they (Jesus parents) found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. All that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”

Mary and Joseph find their young son in the temple, not in the sanctuary. The sanctuary was for the priests of the temple only. But in some of the areas around the sanctuary one could find the rabbins, or doctors with their students.

The students would hear, and then ask questions. This method of teaching was the customary form used. Both the teachers and students took their turns, doing both. This would answer to, “All that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”

This was the first time Jesus found himself in His Fathers house. The great beauty of Jesus life was, He had no desire to anticipate, or to take over the duties of others.

Jesus did not become a teacher at this time, He was to be a learner. Why?

1. His time was not yet.

2. He had yet to increase in wisdom, ver.52, “Jesus (was yet to) increased in wisdom.”

Luke 2:48-49, Mary asked, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father (Joseph) and I have sought thee sorrowing (anxiously.)”

Their question was answered with His question. This question by His mother was the first of many frivolous questions of inquiry with which the Jewish rulers and people would pile upon Him.

5. Luke 2:49, He replied to them, “How is it that ye sought me: wist (knew) ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

This literally may read, “In, or at my Fathers, or about my Father’s affairs, or in my father’s court. This is where my father dwells and can be found. Jesus took this opportunity to instruct His parents concerning His Divine nature and mission, as in His Fathers concerns or business.

Jesus reply seems simple, yet in ver.50, we read, “They understood not the saying which He spake unto them.”

The power of His words to His parents was an assertion of His higher Sonship. Also, this is the last time we hear of Joseph. The next mention is of Jesus mother, and brethren, John 2:12. So we can conclude that from this time in the temple to John 2:12, Joseph died.

6. Luke 2:52, “Jesus INCREASED in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

“Increased in wisdom.” Greek means, to make progress in any thing, to advance, to increase; as common form dative, a term applied to the case of nouns which usually follows verbs that express giving, or some act directed to an object. So dative, of that in or as to, wisdom and stature.

“Favor with God and man.” Favor here is the same Greek as the word “Grace” seen above. Jesus made progress, advanced and increased in the things of God and men.

Jesus knew no sin, and grew in favor with His Father. Concerning His human nature, He increased in the graces of the Holy Spirit. This can be applied to us also. We are not perfect as Jesus was, but in our Christian growth, we can grow in favor with our Father in heaven, and in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. For Jesus was our example of spiritual growth.

Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com