1 PETER 1:14-16 AS OBEDIENT CHILDREN, DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THE PASSIONS OF YOUR FORMER IGNORANCE, BUT AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY, YOU ALSO BE HOLY IN ALL YOUR CONDUCT, SINCE IT IS WRITTEN, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY
What was it like to raise Jesus the Messiah?
• Was he a perfect child?
• Did he ever make mistakes?
• Did he ever have to learn anything?
"When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." (2:40)
Two verbs describe this growth.
• "Grew," the Greek verb auxano, "to become greater, grow, increase."
• "Become strong" (NIV) or "wax strong" (KJV) is the Greek verb krataioo, "become strong."
• It can refer to physical strength, as it probably does here, as well as psychological and spiritual strength.
Jesus grew, but did he learn?
• He didn't start out from infancy with all knowledge -- he had "emptied himself" of omniscience when he became a man (Philippians 2:7). HE EMPTIED HIMSELF, TAKING THE FORM OF A BONDSERVANT AND MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MAN
• We humans learn as toddlers by observing, trial and error.
• We learn language by imitation and correction.
• We learn responsibility by parental rules and enforcement until those rules
• Eventually those values will become internalized.
• Did Jesus learn this way, too? I expect so.
Though Jesus had to learn like the rest of us, God specially gifted him.
• This verse tells us that he was "filled with wisdom" and that "the grace of God was upon him"
• Here, the common Greek noun charis, "grace" seems to mean "a beneficent disposition toward someone, favor, grace, gracious care/help, or goodwill.
"Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover." (2:41)
• Theoretically, Jewish men were required to go to three feasts in Jerusalem each year -- Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles –
• Though only the Passover was strictly observed. Those at some distance, especially the poor, could not attend all the feasts. But women -- and sometimes children -- might attend, too
• Passover celebrated God delivering the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, and pilgrims to the feast would stay a minimum of two days, sometimes longer.
"When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 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 traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him." (2:42-45)
• Pilgrims to the feast in Jerusalem usually traveled in a large party or caravan because a person traveling by himself was in danger from bandits
• The caravan was made up of many of Mary and Joseph's friends and relatives from Galilee, and they naturally supposed that Jesus was somewhere in the crowd.
• No doubt when they camped for the night and Jesus was nowhere to be seen, they became alarmed.
• "To look for" (NIV) or "seeking" (KJV) in verses 44 and 45 is the Greek verb anazeteo, "to try to locate by search, look, search for someone." It is used in early papyrus documents of searching for criminals and fugitive slaves, or for a lost work of literature.
"After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers." (2:46-47)
• And where was he? Deeply engrossed in discussion with the learned teachers. "Teachers" (NIV) or "doctors" (KJV) is the common Greek noun didaskalos, "teachers." Here it refers to "scripture scholars.
• Most would think Jesus was teaching those scholars a thing or two, but that wasn’t the case
• The Temple Sanhedrin would teach between the morning and evening sacrifice
• A 12 yr. old boy would have never been allowed to teach
• But they were allowed to ask questions
• Jesus’ "Understanding" is the Greek noun sunesis, "the faculty of comprehension, intelligence, acuteness, shrewdness." Everyone who heard Jesus on this occasion was struck by his understanding.
• Their “amazement” comes from the Greek word existemi, which means the feeling of astonishment mingled with fear, caused by events, which are miraculous, extraordinary, or difficult to understand.
"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.'" (2:48)
• When they found Him among the Teachers, they were astonished...or ekplesso, "to cause to be filled with amazement to the point of being overwhelmed," here "be amazed, overwhelmed, dumbfounded."
When Mary sees her son is safe, her motherly instinct takes over
• She expresses her deep concern…She talks about their sorrow and anxiety, expressed by the Greek verb odunao, "to experience mental and spiritual pain, be pained, distressed.
'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?' But they did not understand what he was saying to them." (2:49-50)
• We almost want to assume Jesus rebuked His mother, but this is not the case
• He was probably with some family or friends that stayed around a little longer…as they originally thought
• He wanted to learn as much as He could while He had the opportunity to hear such great Men of God teaching
• This shows His true character…We would sometime look for our kids to be playing games or being mischievous at times
• Jesus thought His time would be better spent in the temple
• Jesus calls God “Father” at a time when is was considered blasphemous to do so
• This displays his divine connection and his intimate Love for the creator…He is later accused of blasphemy for this very thing
• Jesus must be in his Father's house. He must be learning so that he might teach. He must!
• In his child's confidence that this ought to be crystal clear, Jesus explains his reasoning, but to no avail. "They did not understand what he was saying to them" (2:50).
[51] Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. [52] And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men
• Jesus submitted to His earthly parents while also pleasing His Heavenly Father
• How do you raise a son whom you believe to be the Messiah? That would be hard enough. But how can she understand that she is raising the Son of God himself? A boy, who, when he calls God his Father, means it literally?
• Mary cannot take all this in. Perhaps if she had, she would have been completely paralyzed by self-consciousness. But she treasures these moments and ponders them in her heart.
Jesus is "filled with wisdom", and yet he still grows in wisdom This passage covers the next two decades from age twelve until he is about 30 years of age and enters upon his public ministry. Jesus "grew"… The Greek word prokopto, "to move forward to an improved state, progress advance."
Notice the three areas of growth:
1. wisdom, spiritual insight,
2. stature, physical size, and
3. favor with God and man.
You want a child like Jesus?
• Teach them the scriptures
• Take them to God’s house regularly
• Live the life before them
• Infuse Grace and Love in every area of your lives
1 Corinthians 11:1-2 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
