Middle School Jesus

Infancy Gospel of Thomas Stories (Likely Second Century)

Chapter 2 - Jesus creates birds out of clay on the Sabbath

Chapter 3 - Jesus is interrupted playing so he curses a boy and they die

Chapter 13 - Joseph makes a bed too short, and Jesus miraculously stretches the board

Chapter 14 - Jesus strikes a teacher dead

Assessment of Jesus’ Childhood

A lot more calm and quiet than most of us would think

Was Jesus a human or God?

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Second Edition) d. People near Jesus Saw Him as Only a Man

Was Jesus fully human? He was so fully human that even those who lived and worked with him for thirty years, even those brothers who grew up in his own household, did not realize that he was anything more than another very good human being. They apparently had no idea that he was God come in the flesh.

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Luke 2:40–52 ESV

40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 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, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 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. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Story

Passover Connection (v.41)

12 was the age of discernment (v.42)

Jesus is lost (v.43-45)

Jesus is studying (v.46-47)

Misunderstanding of Jesus (v.48-50)

Submission of Jesus (v.51)

Increase of Wisdom (v.52)

Luke 2. Jesus as Fully Human

The concluding verse of the infancy narrative (2:52) balances the special importance given to Jesus’ miraculous divine conception in the previous episodes by emphasizing his full humanity. He did not come into the world with a brain fully programmed, as if he were a divine robot. He must develop and reach maturity as any other human must do. He will grow physically, mentally, and spiritually and will need to pray, as the psalmist did, to know God’s ways, to be led by God, and to be taught God’s truth.

Two Truths that you might not realize about Jesus

No Flash

Likely no miracles until he was 30

Quiet childhood

His family was even a bit confused

Rapid Learner from a Human Perspective

Focused on Learning the Scriptures and growing

Let’s summarize

Jesus was God but did not share the full privilege of being God while he lived on earth

Suffering

Tempted

Had to Learn to acquire knowledge

All the struggles of a human

We live in a culture of excuses and comparison where most of you today might excuse sin in your life as something that cannot be changed. Yet we see in the story today that Jesus was looked like nothing extraordinary to everyone around him even at 12 years old. And he still submitted Himself to the will of the Father. It sounds crazy to say that you today are like Jesus, yet he did live a human life similar to ours. And we are called to look to him as the example of a life to live. So today, seeing from the life of Jesus, I want each of you to know that holiness is possible. If you are a Christian, you can change your life to do the will of God. Choose the life of the faithful servant of God as Jesus did.