Luke is giving us a detailed description of the circumstances
and people involved in the birth of Jesus that we do not find in the other
Gospels. Luke first introduces us to Jesus the Baby in a stable lying in
a manger. Then we read about Joseph and Mary taking Jesus to the temple about
forty days after his birth to fulfill the Law of Moses concerning the purification
of Mary after giving birth to a son. It is there that Simeon and Anna give us their
witness recognizing the Jesus is the promised Messiah who will bring redemption
to His people and be “a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles” (v.
34).
Now Luke introduces us to Jesus the Child growing up
in Nazareth, the home city of Joseph and Mary. It might be interesting to note
here that we know very little about the childhood of Jesus. From all the Gospels
we find very little information. The Gospels of Mark and John make no mention
at all about Jesus early years. From Matthew’s Gospel we know Jesus was born in
Bethlehem where the wise men came and worshipped Him, possibly within two years
after His birth. But then when Herod tried to kill Him, Joseph and Mary fled to
Egypt for a short period of time until Herod was dead, and then they returned
to Nazareth (Matthew 2:13-23).
Here Luke informs us that having obeyed the Law in
everything, Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth, which would be our Lord's
home until He started His official ministry. There were many Jewish men with
the name Jesus (Joshua), so He would be known as "Jesus of
Nazareth" (Acts 2:22); and His followers would be called
"Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5; see Matt. 2:23). His enemies used the name,
scornfully and Pilate even hung it on the cross (John 19:19), but Jesus was not
ashamed to use it when He spoke from heaven (Acts 22:8). That which men scorned
(John 1:46), Jesus Christ took to heaven and made glorious!
What did Jesus do during the "hidden years" at
Nazareth? Dr. Luke reports that the lad developed physically, mentally,
socially, and spiritually (Luke 2:40, 52). In His incarnation, the Son of God
set aside the independent use of His own divine attributes and submitted
Himself wholly to the Father (Phil. 2:1-11). There are deep mysteries here that
no one can fully understand or explain, but we have no problem accepting them
by faith.
Jesus did not. perform any miracles as a Boy, traditions
notwithstanding, because the turning of water into wine was the beginning of
His miracles (John 2:1-11). He worked with Joseph in the carpenter shop (Matt.
13:55; Mark 6:3) and apparently ran the business after Joseph died. Joseph and
Mary had other children during those years (Matt. 13:55-56; John 7:1-10), for
the "until" of Matthew 1:25 indicates that the couple eventually had
normal marital relations.
At Nazareth, Jesus went through all of the stages of
growing up. He lived in a home that He shared with brothers and sisters, all of
whom manifested at times the Adamic nature. But He had no such nature. He was
filled with the Spirit. He was always happy, always helpful, always holy. He
was a familiar sight around the village, doing always those things that pleased
His Father. The weak and sickly found a friend in Him for as was the Man, so
was the Boy, known and liked by everyone for "the grace of God was upon
him."
Because Scripture does not reveal much to us of the
childhood of Jesus, we can only imagine what His growing up years at Nazareth
must have been like! But for sure He was sinless, and during this time He developed
the knowledge of His relationship with His Father in heaven through the Old
Testament Scriptures. I believe as Jesus was reading the prophesies concerning
the Messiah in the Old Testament in the Hebrew language, the Spirit of God was
revealing to Him that He was the fulfilment of them!
Today, we can only marvel at God’s wonderful love and grace
in how He Himself becomes flesh to redeem us from our sins!
God bless!
