Luke 2:39-52
Please open your Bible to Luke chapter two, verse thirty-nine. Our text today is found in verses thirty-nine through fifty-two. We complete chapter two of our journey through the gospel of Luke with a wonderful insight into the childhood of Jesus.
Before we read this passage, I need to mention two events in the early childhood of Jesus not mentioned by the gospel of Luke. After our Lord’s dedication in the temple, wise men from the east visited the Christ child while Joseph and Mary were still in Bethlehem. After the wise men departed, the Lord warned Joseph in a dream to take the young child and his mother Mary and flee into Egypt. As you may recall, Herod sought to destroy the baby Jesus. However, the Lord protected his Son and hid him in Egypt until the death of Herod.
After Herod’s death an angel of the Lord appeared again in a dream to Joseph instructed him to take the young child and his mother back to Israel. When Joseph arrived back in Israel the Lord guided him through another dream to turn aside into Galilee. Luke picks up the narrative at that point in verse 39 saying, “they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
Now look with me at Luke chapter two verse thirty-nine. The Word of God says:
39And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Now look with me at verse 40 which says, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”
This statement summarizes the first twelve years of our Lord’s life. First, the baby Jesus grew. This speaks of his physical body. He developed just like any healthy child does today. Remember, when the Father sent his Son to come and live among us he prepared him a body (Hebrews 10:5). In the person of the promised Messiah, it pleased the Father that in him should dwell all the fulness of the Divine Nature in bodily form (Colossians 1:19).
From the moment of his miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, Jesus has been the God-man. He was truly God and truly man when Mary laid him in the manger. He was truly God and truly man through-out his childhood. In his childhood he learned obedience. In that humble estate although God who spoke the worlds into existence, he had to learn his first words as a baby. Humanly speaking he had to learn and grow.
I’m sure you have heard of childhood prodigies. Some gifted children display very high intelligence and giftedness in childhood. May I say, Jesus was the ultimate childhood prodigy. Remember, he was without sin. As the last Adam he possessed perfect humanity. He was not subject to the curse as it relates to fallen human nature. Death did not work in his human body. Jesus grew to maturity however he never grew old. At age 30 when he began his public ministry Jesus had no blemish in his body, no premature gray hair, etc.
Next, verse 40 says he waxed strong in spirit and became filled with wisdom. He grew spiritually and mentally. As well, verse 40 says the grace of God was upon him. Certainly, in the context of referring to Jesus, this speaks of God’s favor upon his only begotten Son. If our heavenly Father watches over you and I, how much more did he watch over his only begotten Son? As he grew from childhood toward adolescence there was never a moment when he was out of the Father’s care.
As we approach Luke’s account of Jesus in the temple at age twelve, there is something we need to pause and reflect upon. At a point in his childhood before we see him in the temple at age twelve, our Lord became aware of who he was. The limitations of his cognizant skills as a young child faded until the consciousness of his identity as the Son of God filled his understanding. There was a point in his physical development when Jesus understood Joseph was not his Father. I don’t think his mother had to tell him that. Clearly by age twelve Jesus understood exactly who his Father was.
Look with me again at verses 41 through 49:
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Take careful note of what Jesus said in verse forty-nine. Jesus at the tender age of twelve knew the Father sent him. Already Jesus lived in submission to the will of his Father. In the gospels Jesus speaks of his Father continually. Over one hundred times in the gospel of John alone Jesus references his Father.
For example, Jesus said: “For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth . . . That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him . . . And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day . . . And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Amen.
My friends, Jesus grew up before the Father as a tender plant. In time he came to maturity awaiting his appearance to the nation of Israel at the baptism of John the Baptist. He completed his public ministry and proceeded to submit to his Father’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane. He went on to the cross where he was smitten of God and afflicted. My friend, the blessed Son of God went to the cross for you. For that purpose he came into the world. Please think about that carefully.
Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior? If not, put your trust in him today.
Please open your Bible to Luke chapter two, verse thirty-nine. Our text today is found in verses thirty-nine through fifty-two. We complete chapter two of our journey through the gospel of Luke with a wonderful insight into the childhood of Jesus.
Before we read this passage, I need to mention two events in the early childhood of Jesus not mentioned by the gospel of Luke. After our Lord’s dedication in the temple, wise men from the east visited the Christ child while Joseph and Mary were still in Bethlehem. After the wise men departed, the Lord warned Joseph in a dream to take the young child and his mother Mary and flee into Egypt. As you may recall, Herod sought to destroy the baby Jesus. However, the Lord protected his Son and hid him in Egypt until the death of Herod.
After Herod’s death an angel of the Lord appeared again in a dream to Joseph instructed him to take the young child and his mother back to Israel. When Joseph arrived back in Israel the Lord guided him through another dream to turn aside into Galilee. Luke picks up the narrative at that point in verse 39 saying, “they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
Now look with me at Luke chapter two verse thirty-nine. The Word of God says:
39And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Now look with me at verse 40 which says, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”
This statement summarizes the first twelve years of our Lord’s life. First, the baby Jesus grew. This speaks of his physical body. He developed just like any healthy child does today. Remember, when the Father sent his Son to come and live among us he prepared him a body (Hebrews 10:5). In the person of the promised Messiah, it pleased the Father that in him should dwell all the fulness of the Divine Nature in bodily form (Colossians 1:19).
From the moment of his miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, Jesus has been the God-man. He was truly God and truly man when Mary laid him in the manger. He was truly God and truly man through-out his childhood. In his childhood he learned obedience. In that humble estate although God who spoke the worlds into existence, he had to learn his first words as a baby. Humanly speaking he had to learn and grow.
I’m sure you have heard of childhood prodigies. Some gifted children display very high intelligence and giftedness in childhood. May I say, Jesus was the ultimate childhood prodigy. Remember, he was without sin. As the last Adam he possessed perfect humanity. He was not subject to the curse as it relates to fallen human nature. Death did not work in his human body. Jesus grew to maturity however he never grew old. At age 30 when he began his public ministry Jesus had no blemish in his body, no premature gray hair, etc.
Next, verse 40 says he waxed strong in spirit and became filled with wisdom. He grew spiritually and mentally. As well, verse 40 says the grace of God was upon him. Certainly, in the context of referring to Jesus, this speaks of God’s favor upon his only begotten Son. If our heavenly Father watches over you and I, how much more did he watch over his only begotten Son? As he grew from childhood toward adolescence there was never a moment when he was out of the Father’s care.
As we approach Luke’s account of Jesus in the temple at age twelve, there is something we need to pause and reflect upon. At a point in his childhood before we see him in the temple at age twelve, our Lord became aware of who he was. The limitations of his cognizant skills as a young child faded until the consciousness of his identity as the Son of God filled his understanding. There was a point in his physical development when Jesus understood Joseph was not his Father. I don’t think his mother had to tell him that. Clearly by age twelve Jesus understood exactly who his Father was.
Look with me again at verses 41 through 49:
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Take careful note of what Jesus said in verse forty-nine. Jesus at the tender age of twelve knew the Father sent him. Already Jesus lived in submission to the will of his Father. In the gospels Jesus speaks of his Father continually. Over one hundred times in the gospel of John alone Jesus references his Father.
For example, Jesus said: “For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth . . . That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him . . . And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day . . . And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Amen.
My friends, Jesus grew up before the Father as a tender plant. In time he came to maturity awaiting his appearance to the nation of Israel at the baptism of John the Baptist. He completed his public ministry and proceeded to submit to his Father’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane. He went on to the cross where he was smitten of God and afflicted. My friend, the blessed Son of God went to the cross for you. For that purpose he came into the world. Please think about that carefully.
Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior? If not, put your trust in him today.
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