STUDY THEME: ONE SOLITARY LIFE: "THE LIFE OF JESUS."
UNIT 2. BORN TO SAVE. "MARKS OF MATURITY."  LK. 2: 40-52.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO LUKE 2. 

In our lesson last week in the 2nd Ch. of Matt. the chapter closes with
Jesus as a little child; the third chapter of the gospel opens with Jesus
as a man of 30. That is to say, between the two chapters of Matt., there
are 30 silent years. What was happening in those silent years? 

Jesus came into the world to be the Savior of the world, and for 30 years
he never moved beyond the bounds of Palestine, except to the Passover at
Jerusalem. He died when he was 33, and of those 33 years almost 30 were
spent in Nazareth, without record. To put it another way, 90% of Jesus
life was spent in Nazareth. What was happening then? 

Jesus was growing up to boyhood, and then to manhood in a good home.
Jesus was fulfilling the duties of the eldest son. It seems most likely
that Joseph died before the family had grown up. In the story of the
Wedding Feast in Cana of Galilee, there is no mention of Joseph, although
Mary is there, and it is natural to suppose Joseph had died. 

So Jesus became the village carpenter of Nazareth to support his mother
and his younger brothers and sisters. A world was calling Him, and yet He
first fulfilled his duty to His mother and to his own folks and to His
own home. 

Jesus is the great example of one who accepted the simple duties of the
home. He was faithfully performing the lesser task before the greater
task was given to Him to do. It is a thing never to be forgotten that in
the everyday duties of life we make or mar a destiny, and we win or lose
a crown.   

Anyone who takes the incarnation seriously has recognized that Jesus grew
and developed like any other normal child. Luke wrote that Jesus ran the
gamut of human emotion: love, compassion, sorrow, and anger. His moral
experience took him into the wilderness of temptation; his social desires
led him to crave the company of friends; and his spiritual needs drew him
to the house of worship. 

In the previous lesson, we saw how Luke used the miraculous events
surrounding Jesus' birth to emphasize his deity. In today's lesson, we
shall see that Luke included the Temple episode to note Jesus normal
growth patterns and thus emphasize his humanity. 

Though Jesus was God's unique "one and only Son," He also became a human.
As a human He grew as all humans do. This is part of the miracle of the
incarnation or God's becoming human. We must keep both truths in mind:
Jesus was fully God and fully human. Paul wrote in Phil. 2: 7 that the
Son of God limited Himself to human conditions when He became a man. Thus
He grew as other boys did, but his growth was much superior to theirs. 

Luke 2:40 records the growth of Jesus before he was 12 years of age "and
the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of
God was upon Him." Here we see, first of all, physical growth. "The Child
grew and became strong. Then we see intellectual growth, "He was filled
with wisdom." His wisdom kept pace with his physical growth. Finally, we
see spiritual growth. "The favor or grace of God was upon Him." God's
grace or unmerited favor was the source of Jesus' strength, and it was
sufficient for perfection.  This was a Jewish way of saying that Jesus
was outstanding, marked by unusual talent and personality, and highly
effective in all that he did. Merely growing up physically and becoming
strong are not marks of maturity. Being filled with wisdom and grace
definitely are marks of maturity. 

A favorable environment is necessary for growth to occur in any area. The
Gospels give us a quick glimpse of several items that indicate that Jesus
had an excellent environment for growth. His parents' concern for his
physical growth and welfare can be seen in their decision to flee into
Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod.  

Later, the carpenter shop in Nazareth provided an opportunity for Jesus
to develop his skills and to learn to relate to those who were customers.
The Scriptures seem to indicate that Jesus' home offered an atmosphere of
love and acceptance. Joseph and Mary also saw that Jesus had ample
opportunity to grow spiritually. Forty days after his birth, they took
him "to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord." They attended the
synagogue in Nazareth and made periodic visits to Jerusalem for some of
the great feasts. 

God certainly knew what He was doing when He chose Joseph and Mary to be
Jesus' earthly family. They provided that necessary wholesome environment
that would allow him to grow and to mature naturally. Here is real
incarnation. God actually became man taking on himself all the
limitations, weaknesses, and necessities of growth that are the lot of
mankind-all but sin. Heb. 4:15 says, "But was in all points tempted like
as we are, but without sin."

2. PLEASE READ LUKE 2: 41-45.

Have you ever seen a cross section of a tree trunk: If so, did you notice
the circles? These circles are known as growth rings. Each ring
represents one year of growth. Some of the rings are larger than others,
indicating abundant rain. The smaller ones can suggest the occurrence of
a drought, a disease or an extra cold winter. By observing these rings,
one can discover the steps and stages of the growth of a tree. 
In Muirr Woods Park between San Francisco and Mill Valley we viewed such
a slab cut from one of the giant Sequoyah trees. They are said to be the
oldest living things on earth. They had marked the ring when Jesus was
born, when Columbus discovered America, etc., as the tree was very old.
We find in Luke 40 and 52 Luke's summary of Jesus' childhood. These two
verses include several rings of growth, indicating how Jesus grew. 

But for the one glimpse of Jesus the Boy in Luke 2 we should know nothing
of the childhood and boyhood of Jesus at Nazareth. At 12 He was already
conscious of a peculiar relation to His Father in heaven. That Messianic
consciousness will grow with the years. But He led a busy life as the
Carpenter in Nazareth. He loved his work and loved nature around Him and
bided His Father's time for Him to begin His Messianic task. 

As faithful Jews, every year Jesus parents went up to Jerusalem to the
Feast of the Passover. The week-long Feast of the Passover-or as it also
was called the Feast of Unleavened Bread-was one of the three yearly
festivals that Jews were to celebrate by making pilgrimage to the central
sanctuary. 

When Jesus was 12, He went to Jerusalem with His parents in their annual
trip for the Feast of Passover. One may imagine how the holy city, and
the Temple and the sacred ritual of Passover fascinated Jesus. When his
parents returned He lingered behind. After the feast was finished, Mary
and Joseph started home; but Jesus remained in Jerusalem. When they
discovered He was not with friends or relatives, they returned and found
Jesus in the temple asking and answering questions of the teachers. The
people were astonished at His understanding. Mary expressed deep concern
and amazement. Jesus in turn was surprised that His parents did not know
that He would be in the house of His Father. 

It was not through carelessness that they did not miss Him when leaving
Jerusalem. Usually the women in a caravan started out much earlier than
the men for they traveled much slower. The men started later and traveled
faster and the two sections would not meet until the evening encampment
was reached. No doubt Joseph thought Jesus was with Mary and Mary though
He was with Joseph and not until the evening camp did they miss Him. The
next morning they returned to Jerusalem, a day's journey, to search for
Him. 

3. PLEASE READ LUKE 2: 46-50.

After three days Jesus parents found Him. The first day probably was the
day they left Jerusalem, the second day was the day they returned to
Jerusalem, and the third day was the day when they found Jesus in
Jerusalem. They found Him in the temple courts sitting among the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Asking teachers
questions and listening to the answer was the normal method of learning
and instruction. 
 
For the Passover season it was the custom for the Sanhedrin to meet in
public in the Temple court to discuss, in the presence of all who would
listen, religious and theological questions. It was there that they found
Jesus. Maybe Joseph and Mary thought He was out of place or presumptuous
to discuss God's Word with Sanhedrin members. 

We must not think of it as a scene where a precocious boy was dominating
a crowd of his seniors. Hearing and asking questions is the regular
Jewish phrase for a student learning from his teachers. Jesus was
listening to the discussion and eagerly searching for knowledge like an
avid student. 

In l974 Lucille and I made a tour of Jerusalem. One of the most memorable
experiences took place at the great Western or Wailing Wall of the Temple
grounds. A large crowd was at the Wall on this particular day. Several
boys were celebrating their Bar Mitzvah. When a Jewish boy becomes 13 he
is expected to take his place among the responsible members of the
synagogue. He becomes a "son of the Law." This is a time of great joy and
celebration as the young boy is allowed to read from the Law for the
first time. The boy would go to a wooden box and take out a large scroll.
Some so large they needed assistance in getting them to the desk. There
they would read to one of the examiners. 

No women are allowed in the area of the examination but stand off to the
side and when a young man completes his reading the women and girls toss
candy into the area to celebrate the accomplishment Chuck Thompson and I
made our way to the examining area. We were issued little scull caps and
joined the group. When the candy was tossed from the area where our wives
were waiting he and I helped ourselves to the rewards. The participants,
including the women, were singing and shouting praises to God. I
witnessed tears running down some of the father's faces. This was truly a
beautiful and moving scene.       

Jesus could have accompanied his parents to Jerusalem in order to make 
preparation for his own Bar Mitzvah. We can suppose that Jesus looked
forward to this event with thoughtful reverence. His presence in the
Temple showed his keen interest in spiritual growth. Being focused on God
the Father's concerns is a mark of maturity. By the age of 12 Jesus
showed remarkable maturity when He demonstrated that spiritual matters
were the main priority in His life.

4. PLEASE READ LUKE 2: 51-52.

Jesus maturity was revealed again by what He did following His experience
in the temple.   

His parents did not understand what business he had to do there in the
temple for his Father. They believe Him to be the Messiah, that should
have the throne of His father David, but they thought that should rather
bring him to the royal palace rather than to the temple. They understood
not his prophetical office; and that he was to do much of His work in
that.   

The work of God was His work and always, even in childhood, it was proper
for him to be engaged in the great business for which he came down from
heaven. Mary and Joseph still did not understand the uniqueness of their
son. Despite all the events surrounding His conception and birth, and the
events following His birth, they had not truly grasped who their Son
really was. The mission of Mary's Son would make parental and maternal
ties secondary to Jesus' relationship with His Father.

4. PLEASE READ LUKE 2: 51-52.


These verses describe Jesus growth between the age of 12 and His baptism
when He as about 30 years old. 

The maturity of Jesus was revealed again by what He did following His
experience in the temple. He had matured to the point of understanding
who He was and that He had a task to do. Yet He also knew the time had
not come to begin that task. In stead, He knew He had to continue in the
relationship and the duties of the oldest son in His earthly family. So
He went down to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary, to live in submission to
His parents, 

He toiled for 18 years as a carpenter and in the quiet retirement of an
obscure village received training for His public career, which would have
been impossible amid the formalism and distractions of Jerusalem. His
development was as natural as it was perfect: He "advanced in wisdom and
stature, and in favor with God and men." His bodily and mental growth
were not more marked than His increasing charm and spiritual growth. Such
development is possible in the humblest sphere for those whose lives are
yielded to the will of God. 

In Luke 2;40 we have a brief but complete account of the first 12 years
of the life of Jesus. Our Lord Jesus lived a normal life as a Child,
growing up in a beautiful Jewish home where the Word of God was adored
and loved. 
Then Luke gave an equally brief but complete account of the 18 years
between boyhood and maturity. He grew for 12 years then for l8 years He
advanced.

Growth is life without responsibility except obedience to authority. That
is the story of Jesus: He grew. This child grew physically, mentally,
spiritually; waxing strong, being filled with wisdom; and all the while
the Grace of God was upon Him in spirit. 

The Child grew but when we see Jesus in the Temple Luke calls him the
Boy. He is no longer the little Child. He is now "The Boy. Son of the
Law." His right to entry into the Temple was that He went as a Son of the
Law." From that time he assumed responsibility himself. He went in as a
disciple, a learner at the feet of the teachers. They had never had a Boy
like that before. 

In this whole paragraph we see Jesus growth from babyhood to boyhood; the
boy coming to adolescence, becoming the son of the Law; everything poised
to the will of the Father; and then for l8 years advancing to the age of
30.  

Voluntarily Jesus left the throne of glory for the manger in Bethlehem.
As God, of course, He knew all things, and yet as a Man he chose to grow
in wisdom as He grew in stature. He has all the marks of a humble child. 

In Vs. 52 Jesus increased in wisdom and stature. 
In the perfection of His divine nature there could be no increase: but
this is meant of his human nature, His body increased in stature and
bulk, he grew in the growing age, and his soul increased in wisdom, and
in all the endowments of a human soul. Though the Eternal Word was united
to the human soul from his conception, yet the divinity that dwelt in him
manifested itself to his humanity by degrees, in proportion to his
capacity; as the faculties of his human soul grew more and more capable,
the gifts it received from the divine nature were more and more
communicated. And He increased in favor with God and man, that is, in all
those graces that rendered him acceptable to God and man. Here Christ
accommodated him self to his estate of humiliation, that, as he
condescended to be an infant, a child, a youth, so the image of God shone
brighter in Him when He grew up to be a youth, than it did, or could,
while he was an infant and a child. Note. Young people, as they grow in
stature, should grow in wisdom, and then, as they grow in wisdom, they
will grow in favor with God and man. 

This lesson has emphasized how Jesus matured. Unlike some folks today, He
did not perceive maturity as reaching a certain age, being head of a
family, or doing only what pleased Him. He developed godly maturity as He
grew year by year, as He submitted to His earthly parents, and as He
fulfilled His earthly duties.

NEXT SUNDAY FROM LUKE 3 WE SEE THAT JOHN'S MINISTRY PREPARED THE WAY FOR
JESUS' MINISTRY.  A.V. DAUGHERTY
JANUARY 7, 2001.