The Boy Who Is Lord By Mark DriscollSample

The boy who is Lord

As the father of two teenage boys, I often wonder what Jesus was like at their age. Was he an introvert or an extrovert? Was he a popular kid or more shy and reserved? Did he have a big laugh? How did he treat his younger siblings, especially when they were annoying him? How did he handle the awkward years of puberty?

The Bible tells us very little about these years of Jesus. In fact, Luke gives us one final glimpse of Jesus’ childhood, and our only glimpse of what he was like as a boy.

We know very little about the early years of Jesus, before the beginning of his public ministry at roughly the age of 30. Some call these “the lost years” of Jesus. Many cults and false teachers try to speculate as to what happened during this time. They’ll try to fill the gaps in, saying that he was with the Essenes or he went east to study with mystics. All of this is pure conjecture.

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable, and the Bible tells us everything we need to know, but perhaps not all we want to know about the life of Jesus. It may not seem like much information, but Luke 2:40 provides some indication of Jesus as a boy: “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” Luke 2:52 adds, “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” The Lord Jesus grew physically from boyhood through adolescence to manhood. He grew spiritually, studying the Scriptures, worshipping, and praying. He grew socially in favor; people respected him enough to call him a rabbi, even in his hometown.

It would seem that Jesus likely did not receive a formal education as a traditional rabbi, as a teacher. But in Nazareth there would have been a synagogue where perhaps dozens of people at a time would get together for prayers and readings. These were very simple, rural folk, many were likely illiterate. Jesus was literate, so he received some education somehow. All evidence suggests that Mary and Joseph did do a great job raising Jesus. They taught him, they loved him, they served him, they protected him, and they got him a great education.

Luke 2:41–52 tells the story of the boy Jesus, once again visiting the temple with his family. Though he was only 12 years old, Jesus was discussing theology with grown scholars who were amazed at his knowledge.

In this same episode, Jesus’ parents lose track of him. Mary was absolutely terrified. Jerusalem had a population of around 100,000, and they’re used to Nazareth, a village of maybe around 100. Somewhere among the crowds, the caravans, and the conversations of the big city, Joseph and Mary realize they’ve lost God. Literally. That’s an especially bad day, but every parent can identify with that same horrible feeling of having a young child wander off.

Jesus’ mother and father began searching desperately, “in great distress” (Luke 2:48). They finally track him down in the temple, and his response is fascinating. “Why were you looking for me?” He asks, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) For Jesus, it was simply his dad’s home. He wasn’t there to look good or act religious. He just liked to hang out with God his Father.

Spend time today praying for the children in your life, that they would grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, like Jesus.