Luke 2:39-52 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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Jesus Grew in Wisdom and Stature
Comments for Study 6

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Memory Verse: 2:52
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Outline
A MAP SHOWING JESUS' EARLY MINISTRY TRAVELS.
A MAP OF GALILEE.
A MAP OF JERUSALEM.
A TIMELINE FROM BABYLON TO ROMAN CONTROL OVER ISRAEL
A MAP OF PALESTINE IN JESUS' TIME
A LIST OF PROPHECIES JESUS FULFILLED

I. Return to Galilee (39-40)

>1. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the law what did they do? (39)

* Luke 2:39 "When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth."

* "Galilee" -Galilee is a place name meaning, circle or region." Its in the northern part of Palestine above the hill country of Ephraim and the hill country of Judah (Joshua 20:7). The Septuagint or early Greek translation referred to a king of the nations of Galilee in Joshua 12:23, though the Hebrew reads, "Gilgal." Many scholars see the Greek as original. This would indicate a leader of a coalition of city-states whom Joshua defeated. (Holman Bible Dictionary)

* "to their own town of Nazareth" -Nazareth in the district of Galilee was a small town, Mary and Joseph's home town. (Luke 1:26) According to John 2:46 the town was known for nothing good. "Nazer" means "despised," or "not honorable". Christians were at first called Nazarenes. (Acts 24:5)

Nazareth was on a major trade route. Being on a major trade route brought in many strangers and Gentiles. It would be hard to keep faith and purity in such an environment. Also being a small town made it easy for everyone to know everyone and everything about each other. Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament anywhere, but the area is referenced. (Isaiah 9:1) Poor Jews lived in towns like Nazareth. Many Jews left Judea to escape first the Syrian and then the Roman oppression. Mary and Joseph's family must have moved to this area because of the oppression.

Nazareth in Galilee

* The picture is of modern Nazareth, on a cypress clad hill, near the great trade route from Damascus to Egypt and on the edge of the Plain of Jezreel. Here lies the home of Jesus and his family (Luke 1:26; Mark 6:3). It was here that he lived from the time his parents brought him back from Egypt until the beginning of his public ministry. In this lovely countryside he learned the parables of nature, the time of sowing and harvest, growth and decay. Yet it was in Nazareth that Jesus was later to find no faith in himself: "A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house" (Mark 6:4). (The Bible as History in Pictures, Werner Keller)

>How is Luke 1:39 reconciled with Matthew 2:19-23?

* Matthew 2:19-23 "After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.' So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

* Luke records Jesus' birth, the shepherds' visit, Jesus' circumcision which was when Simeon and Anna prophesied about Jesus' ministry. These accounts are laden in the saving grace through Jesus to all including the Gentiles. He does not record the wise men visit nor Jesus' need to be taken to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath. Matthew does not record Luke's recorded events, and Luke does not mention Matthew's recorded events. Why?

First, let's look at the timing. How long was Jesus in Egypt? Jesus was born in either 6 or 5 B.C. Matthew records the wise men started their trip when they saw the star in their homeland. The trip would have taken around a year. Thus, they visited Jesus, Joseph, and Mary when he was between one and two years old. (This is also why Herod had all the boys killed two and under, Matthew 2:16) Matthew records that Joseph left Egypt "after Herod died". Herod died in 6 B.C. So their stay in Egypt was less than a year. So all the events in Luke and Matthew can easily fall into a time line.

Now as to why they recorded what they did. One reason is that they didn't know of the other events. However, I believe another reason is more probable. Matthew's reason for recording Jesus' short stay in Egypt as a toddler was to show how Jesus fulfilled Scriptures. Matthew's audience was Jews who want to know how Jesus fulfilled Scriptures. So Matthew recorded the visit to do just that. It can be concluded that Joseph was intending to keep his family in Bethlehem since they were there for around two years. However, God intervened because Jesus needed to be raised in Nazareth to fulfill Scriptures. So God told the prophets to proclaim centuries before about the events of the young boys dying, Jesus being brought out of Egypt and being raised as a Nazarene.

Luke's audience was the Greek (intellectual Gentiles). They weren't interested in how Jesus fulfilled scripture. Rather, they wanted to know the facts of how Jesus brings God's grace. (Luke 1:1) Luke appealed to their reason and Matthew appeals to man's religious incline. Both reveal Jesus in different ways according to the audience they had in mind.

>2. What kind of childhood did Jesus have? (40)

* Luke 2:40 "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him."

* "And the child grew and became strong" -physical growth.

* "he was filled with wisdom" -intellectual growth.

* "the grace of God was upon him." -spiritual growth.

* Jesus was well balanced.

* Somewhat similar to the trinity of God, man has (or is capable of having) three parts; physical body, soul (feelings and thought), and spirit (that which is of the spiritual world). When Adam and Eve sinned the first part that died was the spirit for God's spirit departed from them. (John 1:4, 8:12) Eventually their physical body died so that all that was left was their soul. God promises complete restoration in his Son, Jesus. (John 1:12-13: Acts 10:43)

* Today children are raised up unbalanced. Some parents push their children to sports to the point of deifying it. I knew of a boy who wasn't yet a teenager who suffered physical sports injury so severely that he could no longer play any sports and had other physical problems. Other parents push their children to study text books so much that the knowledge they obtain gives them a headache, fears, and other pains because of lack of sleep. A few parents push their children towards their religious beliefs because its their occupation and/or fears. Pursuing each of these three things is important and good only when balanced. Each child is born with talents and gifts. Each child can be nurtured to build on them and should do so without the neglect of the whole self.

>What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

* Knowledge is understanding the facts. Wisdom is understanding what is true, right, and lasting; that is, seeing how the true facts apply to a balanced life.

* Deuteronomy 4:5-6 "See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."

* Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

* Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise."

* Proverbs 2:6 "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

* Psalm 119:65-66 "Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands."

* Proverbs 2:6 "For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

* Proverbs 8:12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion."

* Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

* 1 Corinthians 12:8 "To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,"

>What is the source of wisdom? (Isaiah 33:6)

* Isaiah 33:6 "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."

* God is the source of truth and wisdom. Today a lot of people know facts; some true and some false. Some people take the facts and distort them to lead people away from wisdom. The truth leads to wisdom. Wisdom leads to God. The Son of God taught the truth which leads us to obedience to God. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

II. The Boy Jesus at the Temple (41-50)

Jesus with doctors

* See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.

>3. What was the annual events for Jesus' family? (41)

* Luke 2:41 "Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover."

* "Every year his parents went to Jerusalem" -The Lord God required all men to appear before the Sovereign Lord at the temple in Jerusalem three times a year. (Exodus 23:14, 17, 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16)

Since Alexander the Great controlled Palestine many Jews had been scattered throughout the Greek and Roman world. Travelling to Jerusalem three times a year was hard if not impossible for many Jews. So the religious leaders declared that each male Jew didn't have to go to Jerusalem three times a year, but should try to get to Jerusalem for at least one of the three main feasts. Luke's comment in verse 41 seems to indicate that Joseph and Mary was sure to visit Jerusalem on Passover, the most important feast at the time, but perhaps not the other two feast.

Since the foundation of New Testament Temple at Pentecost in the hearts of God's people and the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. we can't go to a physical temple. Rather we are to present ourselves before his temple in our hearts. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; and 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21)

* "his parents" -The Law of Moses did not require women to attend. However, Mary apparently wanted to go. When Luke uses the word parents here, he did not forget that he had written in the previous chapter that Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant with Jesus.

>According to the law what is commanded for the Feast of the Passover? (42; Ex.23:14-19; Lev. 23:4-8)

* Luke 2:42 "When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom."

* Exodus 23:14-19 "Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt. "No one is to appear before me empty-handed. Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field. "Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord. Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast. "The fat of my festival offerings must not be kept until morning. Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."

* Leviticus 23:4-8 "These are the Lord's appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. For seven days present an offering made to the Lord by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work."

* "the Feast of the Passover." -Passover was the first Feast of the Lord in the first month of the Hebrew calendar, the month called Abib. (Exodus 23:15) This month is in the springtime. It is the first of a seven day event commemorating when the Lamb of God's blood saved Israel from death and slavery in Egypt. It starts with Passover and ends with the seven days Feast of Unleavened Bread with the Day of Wave Sheaf in the mist of it. (From "The Believer's Future - Hope that Inspires" found on this web site.)

* "When he was twelve years old" -When a Jewish boy celebrates his thirteenth birthday they officially are declared an adult. The event is called a bar mitzvah. When thirteen years old he is given the right to participate in society and religion as an adult. When thirteen he fully assumes the responsibilities and rights of the circumcision he had received as an infant. He becomes "a son of the commandment".

* "according to the custom" -The custom was to bring a Jewish boy to Jerusalem a year before his bar mitzvah as part of his education. In Jerusalem he was to learn the proceedings of the temple and perhaps even from the best religious scholars who lived in and around Jerusalem. The teachers would gather in the large temple courts and teach.

* Celebrating the time when a boy and girl becomes an adult has been lost in many modern cultures. To often children who are to immature are given rights and responsibilities of an adult. And to often young adults who are mature are not given the rights and responsibilities of an adult. The age of ascension has been blurred so that the youth are confused and society is brought low. The age at which a person becomes an adult can be between thirteen and eighteen years old. The event should not be two big and not without meaning. I had learned of this important fact before it was to late for my son. When he graduated from high school I told him, "Today you are officially a man in society and in this family..." The conversation moved on from there. We molded this event into his high school graduation party. I plan on doing something similar with my daughter too.

Group Bible Study

>4. What happened to Jesus' family when the Feast was over? (43-44)

* Luke 2:43-44 "After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends."

* "After the Feast was over" -The titles "the Feast", "Passover" and "The Feast of Unleavened Bread" are sometimes interchangeable in the Bible since they happen at the same time. Here "the Feast" included all the events of the seven days of Unleavened Bread; Passover, the Sheaf Wave, and Unleavened Bread.

* "while his parents were returning home" -People often travelled in groups because the highways were known for raiders and thieves. The women would be at the front of the caravan and the men in the back. The commentators don't mention why, but I suspect that it had to do with the dust and common decency.

* "they were unaware of it" -Each probably thought Jesus was with the other, or with the boys his age.

* Joseph and Mary were normal parents. They made mistakes just like any other parents.

* Joseph and Mary trip back to Jerusalem must have been full of mixed emotions; anxious, hysterical, nervous, fearful, etc.

>Why do you think Jesus stayed in the temple? (43)

* "the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem" -Jesus' desire to know and understand the word of God is displayed. He could not have received such education in the small village Nazareth as he should have been able to receive in Jerusalem. Jesus took advantage of his time in Jerusalem to stand and learn in the temple courts.

* So many adults in our culture do not know and study the Bible. Sadly their children don't know it either. Children and young adult education must include Bible facts, not just social events and music that they like. When a child begins learning an art, sport, or reading, writing and arithmetic they learn the basic facts first and build upon those facts. How's come so many congregation don't teach the basic facts of the Bible any more? Peter wrote, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:2-3) The writer of Hebrews wrote, "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:11-14)

* Any new believer needs Bible study! Don't let the Book collect dust on your shelf. Read it every day and study it deeply in groups at least once a week. I fear that many church goers are going to be so surprised when the first through the last seventh trumpets are blown because they had not studied the Bible for themselves. Instead many today only rely on movies, television shows, other books, and speakers for their Biblical education. Perhaps your thinking, "The Bible is to hard for me to understand." Don't children say similar things when they learn to read and write? Why give up and make excuses? Pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire you and start eating spiritual food!

* Consider the actions of normal twelve year old boys and we can learn how Jesus was different and special. Puberty begins at around this age. Twelve year old boys are children becoming adults. At times they are rebellious, mature, playful, vigour, depressed, confused, emotional, emotionless, selfish, and selfless, fearless, and fearful. They are dealing with changes within and without.

* Jesus loved the word and work of God.

* At around this age the inner core is being rewritten, upgrade.

Temple Warming Plaque

* The picture is of a Temple warning plaque from Herod's reconstructed temple. It was found amongst the Roman ruins. Paul was accused of having brought Greeks into the temple, thus disregarding this notice which has since been rediscovered in Jerusalem. It was inscribed on the Court of the Gentiles in the temple and forbade any non-Jew on pain of death to pass beyond that point into the inner courts. "Whoever is caught doing so will have himself to blame that his death ensues" -thus the inscription in red letters on a block of white limestone which dates from the time of Jesus and his disciples. (The Bible as History in Pictures, Werner Keller)

>Who made this mistake? (44)

* "Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day." -One day away was perhaps twenty miles (30km).

* "Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends." -Each family rejoined at the end of the day not only to sleep together, but to eat together.

>5. How did they find Jesus? (45-46a)

* Luke 2:45-46a "When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts"

* "After three days" -Going through Jerusalem after the pilgrims left would not have taken three days. Rather, three days here started from when they left Jerusalem (day one), return to Jerusalem (day two), and look in the city (day three).

* "they found him in the temple courts" -The temple had three court areas; one for adult Israelite males, one for adult Israelite females, and the outer most court was for the Gentiles.

>What was Jesus doing in the Temple? (46b)

* Luke 2:46b "sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."

* "sitting among the teachers" -Gaining and giving an education in those days consisted of a teacher (rabbi) sitting on a mat on the ground with a group of men seated around him.

* "listening to them" -Learn involves listening to what the teachers say.

* "asking them questions" -Learning involves gaining clarification by asking questions. Jesus' questions were different in that they were tough well worded and directed toward the truth.

* Jesus did not have a challenging mind. Rather, he had an inquisitive mind. Twelve year old children can learn and share the word of God.

* Four ingredients in learning are: listening, asking questions, answering questions, and getting answers.

* Many religious leaders would teach and debate in the temple courts, especially during the feasts when many people came from all over the world.

>What was the response of the people who saw Jesus in the Temple? (47)

* Luke 2:47 "Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers."

* "at his understanding" -Jesus had studied the Bible on his own before he sat amongst the Jerusalem scholars.

* "his answers" -A Jewish Rabbi would often teach by asking questions. Often they did not get answers or the answers they got were incorrect. Jesus however gave the correct answer. More than that the answers he gave contained truths that the rabbis had not considered. We can read of this during his earthly ministry. (Matthew 21:24, 22:23, 35, 46; Mark 8:11, 11:29, 12:18, 12:34; Luke 11:53, 20:3, 21, 27, 40; John 8:6-7, 18:19)

* I have seen men who were not wise hid behind questions to give the appearance of wisdom. When they are asked questions rather than speaking the truth or admitting their guilt they return a question with a question of their own. Then they drive the conversation away from the original question.

* God has the authority to ask us questions. He asks out of love not hate. He asks us questions that often are hard to answer because it points to the truth. (Genesis 3:9, 11, 13, 4:9, 18:9; John 1:38)

* The religious leaders were so amazed at Jesus' words that they must have let him sleep in the temple and they must have feed him.

The Young Jesus in the Temple

* See a engraving to the right by Johann Eck, 1486-1543. Mary and Joseph find the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions.

>6. What did Mary say to Jesus? (48)

* Luke 2:48 "When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

* "they were astonished" -Jesus was not worried or wandering around looking for his parents. Jesus was fully occupied with some of the most respected teachers in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph did not realize that their son had such knowledge and wisdom.

* "His mother" -Mary spoke up, not Joseph. Her feelings were hurt. She was thinking with her emotions. She gave Jesus a gentle rebuke.

* "treated us... your father" -Mary included Joseph in the conversation. Mary had not forgotten the virgin birth, neither had Luke. Joseph was Jesus' adapted father. According to Jewish custom and law he would have been called Jesus' father because of the adoption.

* "anxiously searching for you." -Any loving parents gets a sharp pain when they are in public and suddenly lose track of their child.

>What was Jesus' response? (49)

* Luke 2:49 "'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?'"

* "I had to be" -The KJV says, "must".

* "in my Father's house" -Jesus knew exactly who his real Father was, God. Jesus knew he was more than Mary's son. Jesus knew of the events of his birth. More than knowing the facts Jesus has a unique relationship with God, his Father. Jesus called God his Father because Jesus was conceived not in the ordinary way, but through the touch of the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb.

* Some translate this as "about my Father's business". The original Greek is "en mou pater" which strictly can be translated as "about my Father" or "in my Father". "Pater" is always translated as father. "House" and "business" are added because of the nature of the question Jesus asked implies the business associated with the Temple. Later, Jesus would state, "But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." (John 10:38) And he said, "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." (John 14:10-11) See also Jesus declaration in John 17:21.

* Jesus did not say, "your father." The normal thinking about God was completely opposite from Jesus' understanding. No one would have call God their father. They didn't even call him by Jehovah (in Hebrew this is Yahweh). They usually used Adonai.

* The temple was considered God's house not that God's presence was only there, but that the temple in Jerusalem was the place where God chose his people to come to him. We are physical beings and can relate to going to a physical building. These days congregations are to meet in a building on a regular basis. (Hebrews 10:25)

* Jesus' first words in Luke's gospel are his declaration that he is the Son of God. This is something that no Jew would think of doing. As someone once stated, "Either he was a lunatic or he spoke the truth. You decide." As for me I decide that he told the truth.

* Jesus wanted to learn and to share the word of God. Nazareth was not known to be a good town. It was on a major trade route and until a few years before this didn't have much of a Jewish population. The synagogue, the center of learning in the local Jewish community in those days, would have been small in Nazareth. Jesus education there would have been limited. Mary and Joseph would have limited knowledge. He must have learned much with personal study.

* Jesus with the elders of Israel, the elite teachers of the law as a boy just of age to be there shows his mental discipline and study habits.

* Jesus was saying, "My actions here was not as your son, but as the Son of God.

>Did they understand what Jesus was saying? (50)

* Luke 2:50 "But they did not understand what he was saying to them."

* God hide this truth from them. Mary and Joseph had conceptions about the Messiah that was taught to them by the Jewish religious leaders that conflicted with Jesus' ministry.

>Through this incident what do you know about Jesus' family?

* Jesus was raise up in the normal way. Jesus' parents loved him though they didn't understand him. Jesus loved his parents and obeyed them. Jesus obeyed them even though they didn't fully understand him.

The Boy Jesus Visits Jerusalem

* The illustration titled "The Boy Jesus Visits Jerusalem" by an unknown author is not in public domain.

III. Jesus Grew in Wisdom and Stature (51-52)

>7. What was Jesus' attitude toward his parents? (51a; Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-4)

* Luke 2:51a "Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them."

* Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

* Ephesians 6:1-4 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.' Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

* "obedient to them" -Jesus obeyed. He knew God had put him in this family. He wasn't angry because they didn't understand him all the time. He did seek to leave them. He wasn't proud and obstinate. He respected them. He respected God.

* Obedience is not natural for fallen man because the fallen nature urges us to rebel against authority.

* Parents can teach obedience through example. They should obey God's word.

>What was Mary's role in raising Jesus? (51b)

* Luke 2:51b "But his mother treasured all these things in her heart."

* Mary remembered and much later repeated God's work in Jesus early life. She was thoughtful and prayerful.

>8. How is Jesus' growth described? (40, 52)

* Luke 2:40 "And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him."

* Luke 2:52 "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

* Jesus was well balanced normal human boy. See above for more.

* Jesus learned in time. People liked him in time. People looked up to him in time. He didn't come and go like a flash in the pan.

* "wisdom" -Wisdom it taking knowledge and understanding and applying them correctly in our lives.

* "stature" -Stature is status, honor, importance, and spiritual weight.

* "the grace of God was upon him" -God was with him so that all was see he was favored by God.

>What are the characteristics of Jesus' growth? (Heb. 5:8; Prov.3:1-3)

* Hebrews 5:8 "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered."

* Proverbs 3:1-3 "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."

* "Although he was a son" -Jesus had a special relationship with God yet wasn't different than us.

* "he learned obedience" -Jesus' special relationship with God didn't exclude him from living as a human.

>What can we learn from this?

* Persistence in righteousness slowing produces its fruit.

* Jesus was indeed the "second Adam". He was the perfect man, not by supernatural ways, ways that we are excluded from. But by ways anyone can utilize.

* We should desire to be like Jesus.

* Through Luke's account here we can learn more about Jesus. Jesus knew he was the Son of God from the beginning. He did not suddenly decide he was the Son of God. He wasn't persuaded by some men in the wilderness. He didn't receive a special education. He was not pursued by John the Baptist.

* We should always strive to mature, grow, and learn. Some people stop maturing. Saul and Rehoboam stopped maturing.