Day 73: Growing in favour – Luke 2 vs 39 – 52

39-40 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favour was on him.

41-45 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first because they assumed he was among the other travellers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.

46-47 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48-50 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant.

51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and all the people Luke 2:39-52 New Living Translation.

Was Jesus disobedient to Joseph and Mary? If he was, then he would be a sinner too and could not then have offered himself later to atone for the sins of others. The writer of Hebrews points out that it was because Jesus never sinned that he could be the perfect High Priest. He says: “Jesus is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honour in heaven. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.” (Hebrews 7:26-27)

Luke tells us that Jesus was already twelve. Though still a boy, he would’ve been regarded as quite mature (as vs 39-40 show us). Verses 41-45 remind us also that people travelled to those feasts in large groups and with many family members. That's why his parents were not worried at the start. The reply Jesus gave (vs 48-50) shows he had not acted rebelliously, but had assumed they would obviously know where he was. What does Jesus' answer (and the words of vs 46-47) tell us about him?

I think that was Luke's' reason for telling about this incident. He shows that Jesus had an awareness of who he really was and what his life's purpose was from an early age. Verse 51 suggests that Mary was realising that more and more too! This verse also shows us what Jesus' relationship with his parents was like. What does vs 52 tell us about Jesus?

Just as in vs 39-40 we're told that Jesus grew in strength and wisdom. It is good to look after the bodies God has given us. Proverbs 23:19-21 says: “My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. Don't carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.” But it is also good to look after our spirit. Jesus made the wisdom that comes from God's word his delight. And what does vs 52 say the result was?

Notice that Jesus' love of God's word didn’t only find favour with God, his lifestyle found favour with many people too. Yes, there are people who hate 'goody-goodies'. Usually because their own lives are so wrapped up in doing wrong. But living as God calls us to live will also win us many friends. Taking care of our body and filling our mind with God's word is a wise choice.