And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52 ESV)
As the Biblical birth journey comes to a close, our Advent devotional ends years after the birth of Jesus. The final note of Luke’s Gospel concerning the boyhood of Jesus is found at the end of Luke chapter two. After Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned to Nazareth, it appears by the very limited information we have that Jesus had a normal Jewish childhood. Luke’s concluding statement about the boyhood of Jesus reminds us of an important truth: Jesus was truly 100% human while retaining 100% deity.
This Biblical concept is theologically known as the Hypostatic Union and it has some important implications. At His incarnation, Jesus the eternal Son of God added humanity to His deity for eternity. Simply, Jesus at His birth became a real man and even today is ruling and reining at the right hand of God with a resurrected, glorified human body. Jesus is and forever will be God incarnate.
Notice what Luke points out, as a man Jesus grew! He increased in both wisdom, stature, and favor with both God and man. The eternal God-man had to learn how to crawl, walk, talk, run, laugh, and play. He experienced all the aches and pains of life. He no doubt experienced grief, sorrow, and moments of intense joy and laughter. Jesus experienced all the things humanity experiences with a very key, unique distinction: He was and is forever sinless. Stop trying to over spiritualize this truth: Jesus was truly a man, albeit a perfect and sinless man.
We begin to scratch the surface of why this is Biblical reality is so crucial in Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Jesus knows what its like to be us. He knows what its like to live in a sin strained world with temptations, trials, and tribulation. He understands pain, sickness, and even the grief of death. Because He was truly man, He completely identified with us in His life and fulfilled the perfect Law of God. As the Lamb of God, He was the perfect sacrifice as He became the propitiation for our sins.
As our hearts continue to meditate on the breathtaking reality of the incarnation, stop for a moment and realize the truth: Jesus knows. Even though He is the One for whom and by whom all that was created was created (see Colossians 1:16), He can still perfectly serve as our sympathetic High Priest. Jesus knows experientially what it is like to be us and He cares and has the power to help us as we face all the twists, turns, ups, and downs of life.
Today I hope each of us will stop and praise Jesus for who He is, what He has done, and for His incredible love, promises, and faithfulness. The entire message of Christmas and the Bible points me to this incredible truth: God is love and He extends that incredible, unsearchable love to me and you. Jesus, roughly 18 years after the last time we see Him in Luke 2:52, would begin a world changing ministry. Almost 21 years later, Jesus would give His greatest lesson right there in city of Jerusalem as He would give His life as a ransom on the cross of Calvary. Never ever forget: Without the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb, the manger in Bethlehem is powerless to help or save us.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas season as our hearts eagerly anticipate and pray for the 2nd Advent of Christ. Jesus is coming again soon, until that day may we serve Him with joy, faithfulness, and urgency. I leave you with this powerful reminder from Hebrews 9:27-28: And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Heavenly Father, thank You for all of the incredible, rich beauty of the Christmas story. Thank You for Your rescue plan for the redemption of humanity. Lord Jesus, thank You for stepping into the world You created to live the life we could never live and to die the death we deserved. Thank You that You will forever be our sympathetic High Priest, Savior, and King. May we rejoice this Christmas season with hearts that pray for and long for Your second coming. Until that moment, stir our hearts and minds with awe and wonder at Your incredible, finished work. In Your holy name we pray Lord Jesus, amen.
