Outline Jesus Increased in Wisdom and God’s Favor For Us based on Luke 2:40-52

I. Younger days of Jesus.

II. Read Luke 2:41-45 and comment about “Home Alone” movie. Luke 2:41-45 records the memorable trip to Jerusalem: “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.”

III. Joseph and Mary without Jesus.

IV. Read Luke 2:46 and comment. Luke 2:46 records, “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.”

V. Read Luke 2:47 and comment. Luke 2:47 records, “And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

VI. Read Luke 2:48-50 and comment. Luke 2:48-50 informs us of the reaction of Mary and the response of Jesus when Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple: “And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.’ And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.”

VII. Read Luke 2:51-52 and comment. Luke 2:51-52 sums up what Jesus did for the rest of His days in Nazareth until He began His earthly ministry at about 30 years of age: “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

VIII. Conclusion. Jesus increased in wisdom and favor with God the Father and with the people of His time. According to His human nature, Jesus continued to learn more about the wisdom of God and He gained favor with God and with other people. Jesus obeyed the Ten Commandments perfectly. He obeyed His mother, Mary, and His step-father, Joseph. Most important of all, Jesus obeyed His Heavenly Father perfectly and offered Himself as a once-for-all sacrifice for the sins and wrongs of every human being, including you and I. He was raised on the third day, after that sacrifice on the cross, as proof positive that God the Father approved of His sacrifice. Jesus increased in wisdom and God’s favor for us.

Since all of our stresses, sins, failures, and mistakes are fully forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus in our behalf, what is our response to that great gift as we are now in the new year of 2025? We can grow in the wisdom of God by reading the Bible, attending Bible class, and worshiping the Lord on a regular basis. We can continue to learn about God’s gracious favor for our lives as we remember the washing away of our sins in our Baptism. We can continue to benefit from God’s gracious favor as we receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus in the Lord’s Supper to forgive us anew and strengthen our faith. We can tell others the good news that although the wages of our sins should be death, we receive the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord through saving faith.

Our Epistle reading from Ephesians 1:7-10 sums all this up nicely with the words: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.