There is almost nothing written about Jesus’ earthly life as he grew up. But Luke records one story that tells us a lot about the person of Jesus and what, as a young boy, he spent time on.
In the previous article, we discussed what Jesus must have been doing to be described as growing in wisdom. In this article, we will talk about what he did to grow in stature and favor.
Jesus Grew In Stature
Luke wrote Jesus grew in stature (Lk 2:52). The Greek word “Helikia” simply means physically growing up. With the passing of time, Jesus’ body and mind were maturing. This indicates Jesus, for the most part, had a normal childhood. Just like his friends, he grew physically, mentally, and spiritually as his age progressed.
As he grew through his teens and twenties, he wasn’t known as a cocky, sarcastic, or arrogant young man. Jesus wasn’t into impressing the ladies with his charm, physical strength, good looks, or high octane racing striped mule. He didn’t think it was advantageous to act rebelliously or inconsiderately. He didn’t experiment with drugs, smoke fig leaves, or chase girls. To the contrary, the people who knew him the best spoke well of him (Lk 4:22).
Jesus Appeared To Change
At the beginning of his ministry (approximately 30 years old), he returned to his home town to preach (Lk 4:16-30). Jesus’ own kinfolk witnessed what others had said about his preaching. Gracious words filled Jesus’ sermons and the way he taught about God was appealing. His training and preparation for ministry were bearing fruit. And everyone was proud of him. They marveled at what their little country village produced.
However, before the end of his first home town sermon, their impressions quickly changed. In the middle of his first sermon, they became furious (vs. 28). His words were true but too convicting. It appeared that Jesus was a sweet little boy who grew up to be a radical. He shattered false notions about God and challenged trust in themselves.
In this sermon, he included two Old Testament illustrations of God’s blessings. But the blessings were not favorable toward the Jews. God was blessing heathens from Sidon and Syria. This exposed his neighbor’s pride in him as a celebrity from their home town. It revealed their lack of faith in God. This caused offense at his preaching. It insulted them.
So they burst into a rage. They expelled him from the synagogue, dragged him to the brink of a precipice, and tried to throw him off one of the cliffs facing the valley of Megiddo. Miraculously he escaped, but he never preached in Nazareth again.
Jesus Grew In Favor
Christ further increased in favor with God and others. People liked him as a young man. He wasn’t socially awkward. He didn’t make doves out of clay in kindergarten class or walk around daydreaming about being the Messiah.
Jesus didn’t perform miracles during his hidden years. It’s very likely that during this time his father died. If Jesus was doing miracles during this time of his life, surely, he would have raised Joseph from the dead. But he didn’t. Jesus didn’t use miracles for personal gain. Even during his adult ministry, miracles were not to entertain or simply to make life easier. They affirmed he taught God’s words and that he was the promised divine Messiah described in the Scriptures.
A Negative Example
What exactly was Jesus doing that people described him as growing in favor? By considering a negative example of two religious boys who didn’t grow in favor with God, we learn by contrast what Jesus did as a child.
Eli, the high priest, had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They followed in their father’s footsteps and became priests (1 Sam 2:22-25). But they lived licentiously and had the reputation of being reprobates. They were unfaithful priests and the people despised them. Eli’s sons ignored God’s Word, presumed on God that he wouldn’t judge their sexual sins, and rejected their father’s discipline. They eventually died a senseless death in battle (1 Sam 4:11).
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Jesus found favor in the eyes of people who knew him. Jesus remained sexually pure. He honored and obeyed his earth parents. He feared and respected God as his Heavenly Father. Those whom he grew up with noticed this. They saw in young Jesus a boy growing up with a healthy sense of himself and his God.
The Promise Of A Faithful Priest
God promised Samuel that one day he would raise up a faithful priest who would do what was in God’s heart and mind (1 Sam 2:35). His sons were a failure, but God would not leave the people without an honorable priest. Jesus became that promised faithful priest (Heb 2:17). Unlike Hophni and Phinehas, Jesus devoted himself to God his Father. He respected his parents. And through obedience, he earned the respect of his peer and their extended family members.
Jesus learned obedience as he grew in stature and favor. He developed behaviors that earned him favor with all who knew him. Jesus was tempted like any other young boy to think and act inappropriately (Heb 4:15). But he relied on God’s Spirit to sustain him in the face of temptation. Jesus never sinned because he grew in godly wisdom, stature, and favor. He revered God’s Word and authority. Jesus learned to obey just as you and I did (or should have) during his pre-ministry youthful years.
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Heb 5:7-9 ESV).
The Value Of Learning Obedience
Unlike Hophni and Phinehas, Jesus didn’t die in vain. He died the most purposeful death of anyone (Rom 6:10). It was his death that saved many. His obedience learned at a young age affected our eternity. Had Jesus not grown in wisdom, stature, and favor with God, we would still be prisoners of our own sins. His death would have been meaningless, as was the case with Hophni and Phinehas.
But his death was efficacious for you and me (Heb 10:10). Jesus’ death was the most meaningful death of any person. In him dying we live. Through his righteousness, we received undeserved forgiveness. Because of his faithfulness as our priest, we gain access to our holy Creator God.
Follow Jesus
This is reason enough to follow Jesus’ moral example. Luke’s story of Jesus’ hidden years emphasizes the importance of obedience to God. Jesus’ obedience changed eternity for millions. His hidden years were preparation years for becoming the sacrifice for our failures.
From childhood, Jesus learned to obey God. So, constantly remind yourself of the value of Jesus’ obedience. He obeyed to the point of dying for us. And never forget that every day we either prepare for service to our King or serve our King. May we devote our lives to King Jesus and make them count for eternity.
To read the first article on Jesus’ hidden years click here.
Photo Attributions: cover by Pexel.com, Child and puddle by Daryl Wilkerson, Jr @ Pexels.com, Worship by Chad Kirchoff @ Pexel.com, Cross @ Pixabay.com, Obedience @ Heartlight.org.
