Growing in Wisdom, Stature, and Favor

The Early Years

Scripture doesn’t tell us much about Jesus between the Christmas story and when his public ministry begins. Luke gives us the only glimpse into what being Jesus parents may have looked like.

Twice in Luke 2 we see Jesus and the Holy Family at the Temple. Once at Jesus dedication, and again 12 years later for the passover feast. These are the only places we get a window into the life of the Holy Family. Matthew gives us the story of their flight to Egypt, but the child and Mary are mentions.

Today we encounter a 12 year old Jesus, in his Father’s house, doing the work of his Father. We see a panicked Mary and Joseph frantically looking for their lost son. We get a snap shot of the very normal, abnormal life of beginning to raise a teenager.

As we wrestle with this text on the first Sunday of Christmas, two things jump out to me from this text. One is Mary treasured these things in her heart. The second is Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favor with both God and man.

As we close the book on 2024 may we treasure the things God has taught us this year. As we look to 2025 may we continue to grow in wisdom, stature and favor with both God and man.

The Holy Family

We can learn a lot about the childhood and upbringing from the little window we have been given. Important for today is that Jesus family are devout Jews. They present him at the Temple to the LORD and offer the purification offering. They make the journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year for the passover celebration. Jesus had been making the trip to Jerusalem every year for passover with his family. Around the table he would rehearse the story how God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Jesus had a very Jewish upbringing.

Here is Jesus, at the age of 12, in Jerusalem for passover. Amidst the hustle and bustle of celebration Jesus gets lost. Jerusalem this time of year is busier than a shopping mall at Christmas. The roads and sidewalks were busy. It would be an easy place for a child to get lost.

Mary and Joseph head a days Journey back to Nazareth before they realize Jesus is missing. Then panicked they hurry back to Jerusalem searching for Jesus. They search the city for a day and they finally find him in the temple sitting with the religious teachers, asking questions. The teachers were all amazed.

When Mary and Joseph catch up with Jesus, we can hear the panic in Mary’s voice. Son, why did you do this? Your father and I have been searching all over for you.

Jesus response but why did you need to search? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house? Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what he meant by that. 12 years later Mary and Joseph forgot what Gabriel had told them.

Jesus being 12 years is significant. It’s about the time he would have been close to his bar mitzvah if not already. It is also around this age that an aspiring rabbi would become a disciple. Jesus asking questions of the religious leaders appears to be laying that ground work to begin his Father’s work.

Jesus returns to Nazareth with them, and is obedient to them. Mary treasures all these things in her heart. This is the second time Luke says this about Mary. Earlier in chapter 2 when the Shepherds told her what the angel told them she treasured all these things in her heart. What is it that she’s storing in her heart? That Jesus is the Son of God, like Gabriel told her, that he is the savior and long awaited Messiah. Mary stores these things in her heart.

Jesus returns to Nazareth with them and is an obedient teenager. He grows in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man.

Jesus deity did not exempt him from needing to grow as any other human being needs to grow. This scripture tells us on the first Sunday of Christmas that Jesus grew personally and spiritually.

As we wrestle with these words today, lets treasure in our heart what God has taught us this year. As we look toward 2025 lets be like Jesus and grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man.

Titus 2:11–14 NRSV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.