One area of Jesus’ life many would like to know more about is his growing up days. What were they like? What was it like being a sibling of the Son of God?
There are several stories about Jesus doing strange things, like making doves out of mud. If these stories are true, then Jesus must have been an odd child. But he wasn’t. He grew up a normal child, but with a keen focus on doing God’s will.
Jesus As A Young Boy
Luke’s story of Jesus as a pre-teenager encountering the religious teachers in the temple contains four additional details. These descriptive terms help us understand what Jesus was doing during his “hidden years.” In this article, we will deal with two of them and complete our study next time by discussing the other two.
Throughout Jesus’ maturation and into early adult life, he increases (grows) in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man (vs 52). What do the words wisdom and increase tell us about Jesus’ activities during his “hidden years”? Let’s dig a little deeper into the meaning of these words and find out who Jesus was as a young boy/man.
Jesus Grew in Wisdom
The Greek word “Sofia” is translated wisdom. It describes a practical God-oriented understanding of life. It doesn’t refer to learning facts but describes the ability to apply information to life. To be biblically wise means a person has learned how to live a God-pleasing life (Ecc 2:26). Jesus, during his maturing years, knew more about God and what God expected of people than men three, four, and five times his age. Jesus, as a boy, learned how to please his Heavenly Father.
Even though Jesus had little formal education and grew up in a small lower-class village, his wisdom increased beyond anyone else. Those who knew him watched him grow up playing with their sons and daughters. He attended synagogue classes with them and worked alongside his dad in neighboring towns.
By the time Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for the Passover, people were astonished to see the most educated class in Israel schooled by a poor carpenter’s son. The same power was displayed later during his adult teaching and healing ministry (Lk 4:36). The wisdom he displayed found its origin in the activities he engaged during those hidden years. The hidden years were preparation years for his public ministry. During his public ministry, it was again noted that his teaching was amazingly powerful (Mt 7:28).
Possessing Pearls of Wisdom
We can possess a pearl of similar wisdom. But it takes us, as it did Jesus, preparation time and a commitment to know the Scriptures. Wisdom comes from God. And God teaches wisdom through his Word. The Bible tells us that the beginning of wisdom is to make obtaining wisdom a goal. It’s our responsibility to “get wisdom.” We should highly prize getting wisdom (Pr 4:7-8).
God calls out to his people. He raises his voice to believers and unbelievers alike and offers his wisdom for living. The Lord even makes his wisdom available to the uneducated, the gullible, and clueless. In other words, God’s wisdom isn’t beyond the grasp of anyone (Pr 8:4-7). How encouraging it is to know that godly wisdom is seeking to be found. Our earnest search to be wise is a response to God who offers us his wisdom.
Increasing in Wisdom
Jesus increased in wisdom. The Greek word translated increase is “Prokopto.” It’s created by joining the preposition “pro” meaning primary or superior (to be first) with the verb “Kopto” meaning to chop or cut down. When combined, these terms describe a passionate drive to accomplish something, like a man who is the first to aggressively chops down the dense brush to blaze a trail for others.
Jesus’ passionate drive to accomplish his divine mission was growing even as a child. Mary thought he had been irresponsible and mistreated her by staying behind in Jerusalem. She asked him, “Son, why have you treated us so?” (Lk 2:48). Jesus, driven by his divine mission, responded, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (vs 49). Jesus’ passion to redeem us is recognizable as early as when he was twelve years old.
Our First Calling
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Pr 14:27.
To fear the Lord is to put him and his calling on our lives first. We are to be like Jesus in our passionate drive to fulfill our God-given calling. Before we pursue our vocation, we must know who created us and why we were created. Our occupation and satisfaction in that job are dependent on knowing that we can please the Lord in that type of work (1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:23).
The Psalms and Proverbs remind us that our first calling is to know God (Ps 111:10; Pr 9:10). Before we can begin the journey of finding wisdom, we must first find God. Knowing God is the foundation for all other learning. And it establishes what is true and false (Jn 14:6). Knowing God is knowing the truth.
Jesus grew as a young man in many ways. One critical way was growiong in wisdom. For young men and women between the ages of 12 and 21, it is important not to waste these years seeking pleasure, recognition, or be distracted by activities that are unproductive (see Don’t Waste Your Single Years article).
Establish Godly Patterns Early
Rather, seek the Lord while you are young. Establish life patterns that are godly, healthy, and please the Lord while your heart’s passions are developing. Strengthen your passion to know and please the Lord early. When you do, your whole life will reflect the confidence, satisfaction, and joy that Jesus experienced during his ministry years.
It’s never too late to remoldel your desires. I know men in their 70’s who met Jesus lateer in life. And when they committed their lives to him and his calling, they changed significanly. It’s exciting to see a people of all ages change. Heart change is a divine miracle and often answer to many prayers!
Read the first article on Jesus’ hidden years by clicking here.
Photo attributions: Cover background from Pixabay.com, Israel pics by Jim Klukow, 1st sign by Pete Linforth @ Pexabay.com, Fear of God by Tyler Nix @ Unsplash.com.
