(4) Jesus the Perfect Child

Jesus set the example of perfect humanity in childhood. Perhaps one of the most amazing aspects of Jesus, the eternal God stepping down into humanity is that He came as a baby. At Christmas time, we may refer to the miraculous birth of Jesus. But there is nothing in scripture to indicate that the actual birth of Jesus itself was miraculous in any way. The conception was an incredible miracle, but not the birth itself. Jesus was born to an ordinary woman through an ordinary birth. Pain, blood, and all that goes with a natural birth. He was completely helpless. He could not feed himself or take care of himself. He could not change his own diaper. He was just like every other baby. We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ childhood. But what we do know is pretty amazing.

The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (41)Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. (42)And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; (43)and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, (44)but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. (45)When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. (46)Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. (47)And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. (48)When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." (49)And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" (50)But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. (51)And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. (52)And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:40-52 NAU)

Now that might not seem all that incredible to you, but look at it closer. First of all, notice that Jesus grew, became strong, and increased in wisdom. This is essentially repeated in verse fifty-two. I know I said we would focus on the humanity of Jesus, but I can’t help but pause in wonder over this reality. The eternal Son of God in humanity, growing, learning, getting stronger, gaining wisdom! I can’t get my mind around that one very well.

Look again at verses forty-six and forty-seven. Jesus was sitting with the teachers. Listening intently, learning, asking questions . . . and teaching! So great was His understanding and His answers that they were amazed! What an incredible mind.

But now, for the real bombshell. Verse fifty-one says that Jesus, the eternal Son of God “continued in subjection” to His parents! This word “subjection” literally means to “put in rank under.” He was the most unique, miraculous person to ever live. He was a miracle child. He knew better than them – He was teaching the teachers! Yet He put Himself in rank under His common, ordinary, don’t-have-it-all-together parents. He submitted to them. He obeyed them. That’s what it looks like to be truly human.

Wow! Pretty amazing stuff, isn’t it? But let’s not just be amazed, let’s see if we can be changed by what we see in Jesus, the perfect human. My first observation is that perfect humanity includes weakness, dependance, growth, learning. Hey, perfect humanity even includes dirty diapers, and spit-ups.

Now why did I have to make that last statement? Because I believe we can over glamorize Jesus and perfect humanity. If we don’t recognize the real Jesus, we will miss the glory of the incarnation – the extent to which He stepped down when He became human. Also, this helps us realize that perfect humanity is not some utopian, sit under a tree eating grapes life. Let me take it a step further and remind you that the perfect man worked as a carpenter before He started His ministry. Adam and Eve worked before the fall.

We should also observe the brilliance of perfect humanity in contrast with fallen humanity. I may be wrong, but I doubt that Jesus was given a brain that was far beyond the brains of ordinary humans in ability. Based on the ordinary nature of the rest of His humanity, I suspect Jesus had fairly average mental ability at birth. But, His mind was totally pure and unpolluted by sin. I believe He was able to think more clearly and more accurately than anyone else because of the absence of sin, not because of a miraculous brain capacity. That’s why he could teach the great teachers at the age of twelve.

All our thinking is polluted by sin. Sin makes it so we can’t think strait. We have all kinds of sinful thoughts and attitudes that effect how we hear things and interpret them. Even when it comes to truth. Unless we are thinking God’s thoughts after Him. Unless God, by His Spirit is guiding, even dictating our thoughts, they are polluted. The more we can bring every thought captive in obedience to Christ (1 Cor. 10:5) , and the more we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2), the more we will be able to think, learn, and understand truth and reality. The more truly human we become.

Next:  (5) Jesus: Perfectly Holy