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IN THE MASTER'S STEPS

Luke 2:33-52

Saturday, 26 December 2020


“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” -Luke 2:52


We have very little information on the childhood and adolescent years of Jesus except what is written in the second chapters of Luke and Matthew. His later years after being anointed with power for the tasks God sent Him, are given more importance.


The virtue of wisdom in the early years of Jesus is mentioned in the key verse and v.40 (“And the child grew and became strong in the spirit, filled with wisdom ….”). It is generally known that wisdom is applied knowledge. Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. James 3:13-17 gives us great insight into godly and worldly wisdom. James 3: 13 emphasizes:" Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”


Let us look into some of the qualities of Jesus in His young age, which was the display of His wisdom. In fact, the Word of God instructs all believers to follow the same.


He was submissive to his parents continually: His life with Joseph and Mary who were obedient to God’s instructions had impacted his young age. It is written in Verse 41 “Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.” He would have seen His parent’s continual obedience to this ordinance year after year and in other areas and naturally progressed to this way of obedience. The submission and obedience of His earthly parents has ingrained a submissive attitude from Jesus’ young age on (Luke 2:51). The end result was obedience even unto death on the cross (Philippians 2:8).


We are called to put our old self to death by continual obedience/submission to God (James 4:7).


He had a desire to listen to the Word of God and learn: Vs. 46 says, “Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.” He had a teachable spirit from a very young age (Luke 2:40 says that the Child grew and became strong in spirit…”). He must have learnt the Scriptures from His parents as it was their custom. When He came to the temple He was eager to listen and check out His understanding of what He had learnt, from the teachers of these scriptures (Luke 2:47).


1Peter 2:1 instructs every believer to crave for the milk of the Word of God to grow spiritually.

He was interested in His Father’s business: Joseph and Mary found the missing Jesus in the temple and asked Him why He was not mindful of their feelings and Jesus replied in 2: 49 “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” [NKJV] Jesus was not in the wrong place, nor was He listening to the wrong things. But He was still a young boy needing the care of his earthly parents. He understood this: “And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them;” (2:51). He did what was right in the sight of God. He knew far more than what His parents knew. It must have been painful to submit to their authority, but He had to learn obedience through suffering like any other human. Our Heavenly Father’s business is to go with the gospel! (Matthew 28:19&20)


1Peter2:21 says, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow His steps.”


Reflect on:

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

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