Finding Purpose, Hope and Joy Through Jesus’ BirthНамуна

Day 23 – Jesus Grew in Wisdom and Stature

When you were a child, what was your main concern? Most of us would probably pinpoint a fascination with friends, toys, music or sports. In our passage today, we learned that Jesus was already on His mission. He knew He “must be about [His] Father’s business.”

In the years following His birth, Jesus grew up in the ways that other children do, but each part of that growth was preparing Him to fulfill His specific mission. In our passage today, we learn that Joseph and Mary attended the Passover in Jerusalem. Perhaps they did this every year, but this year was the last one before Jesus would officially enter as a Jewish man.

When Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem, they assumed that Jesus was included in their traveling group of relatives and friends. When it came time to camp for the night, they realized Jesus was missing, so they returned to Jerusalem in great distress and began searching for Him. They found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers. He was listening and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at His understanding. 

Seeing Jesus in the temple wasn’t unusual but seeing Him participating with the rabbis in Bible study amazed those who experienced it.

Jesus’ growth here on earth was preparing Him for a heavenly mission. As we’ve learned, when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they drug all humanity down with them. The penalty for that sin is death. God didn’t leave us in that eternally destitute state though. He came down. He came to us. That’s what Christmas is all about. 

Years later, Jesus would return to Jerusalem to fulfill His mission—redemption for humanity!