Luke 2:39-42 - Jesus the Child

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!