Luke 2:41-52
The increase of God…
Joseph and Mary were faithful to what they knew was right (Exodus 23:14-17 / Deuteronomy 16:16). Remember that the dream lives in your daily life. It might all seem like religious routine, but Jesus has a way of shaking things up. A growing Jesus means you have to stay faithful but also expect the unexpected.
Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. How can the perfect increase in anything? Jesus wasn’t lacking in any godly quality, but in the full experience of living a perfect human life. His lifelong obedience (John 8:29 / Hebrews 5:8, 7:26-28) provides the basis for our eternal salvation (Hebrews 2:10-18, 10:14).
Jesus knew more than the teachers, and more than His parents. Yet He was submissive to them. He knows more than you, yet in a practical sense He is submissive to your will also. The increase of God in your life means you increasingly act as Jesus would have you act (Galatians 5:22-23). Obedience and submission are the fruit of a faithful walk with God.
Mary saw the destiny of the dream, and for her, the triumph would also be the test. Some fail to fully realize what an increase of God in their life means. Yes, you will increase in favor with God and men, but you will also become identified with the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3 / Philippians 3:10). Jesus will do marvelous things in your life, but make no mistake, it will cost you, and it will be painful. Still, if you are looking for Jesus, He isn’t hard to find, He’s in the place where you are doing the Father’s will. When you open the door of your will, then God will open the door of your opportunity.
2 comments:
Twelve years old was an important time in Jesus life, thirteen being the age where they were considered adult they would have had to visit the temple before that time.
"son of the commandment"
P.
Correct...Joseph and Mary came to fulfill the law. Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). We fulfill the law by coming to Jesus (Romans 3:31).
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