The Childhood of Jesus
by Owen Borville
Little is known about Jesus' childhood except for a short description from the Gospel of Luke. In Chapter 2 (verses 41 to 52), a short description is given of an incident from Jesus' childhood. The description tells of Jesus' parents' travels to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. Jesus was 12 years old and would stay in Jerusalem without his parent's knowledge. Luke tells of Jesus spending time in the Temple courts and spending time with the teachers, including listening to them and asking questions. Luke describes the people's amazement at Jesus' understanding and his answers to questions. When Jesus' parents came to search for him, they found him in the temple courts:
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. Luke 2:48.
However, Jesus replied:
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. Luke 2:49-50.
It is apparent that Jesus was not a normal child and expressed characteristics of his identity as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Son of Man. However, the humanity of Jesus was very real and was an important part of his identity. The Christian doctrine affirms the humanity of Jesus as part of his identity, a unique identity that affirms who he is and was, and who he claimed to be. Although we do not know much of Jesus' childhood and his time before adulthood, it is clear that he was the anointed Messiah and that God was with him during his entire life.
Luke 2:52 states:
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
God chose for Jesus to live a human life on Earth and to be the direct mediator between God and man. He was known as the great teacher and the great example to follow. Christians often describe Jesus as God in flesh, the best representation of God, and the one that is most like God. By acknowledging God as his father at age 12, we are made aware that Jesus knew who he was even at a young age and that he knew about the mission that God ordained for him. God had a unique plan to give humanity a Messiah, a unique messiah that lived a life as one of us and experience the hardships of life that we all experience. Jesus has also been called "Immanuel," which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). Therefore God sent Jesus as a Messiah that represents himself. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, he promised that God would give humanity another Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit to be with us until his next return:
“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:25.
by Owen Borville
Little is known about Jesus' childhood except for a short description from the Gospel of Luke. In Chapter 2 (verses 41 to 52), a short description is given of an incident from Jesus' childhood. The description tells of Jesus' parents' travels to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. Jesus was 12 years old and would stay in Jerusalem without his parent's knowledge. Luke tells of Jesus spending time in the Temple courts and spending time with the teachers, including listening to them and asking questions. Luke describes the people's amazement at Jesus' understanding and his answers to questions. When Jesus' parents came to search for him, they found him in the temple courts:
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. Luke 2:48.
However, Jesus replied:
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. Luke 2:49-50.
It is apparent that Jesus was not a normal child and expressed characteristics of his identity as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Son of Man. However, the humanity of Jesus was very real and was an important part of his identity. The Christian doctrine affirms the humanity of Jesus as part of his identity, a unique identity that affirms who he is and was, and who he claimed to be. Although we do not know much of Jesus' childhood and his time before adulthood, it is clear that he was the anointed Messiah and that God was with him during his entire life.
Luke 2:52 states:
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
God chose for Jesus to live a human life on Earth and to be the direct mediator between God and man. He was known as the great teacher and the great example to follow. Christians often describe Jesus as God in flesh, the best representation of God, and the one that is most like God. By acknowledging God as his father at age 12, we are made aware that Jesus knew who he was even at a young age and that he knew about the mission that God ordained for him. God had a unique plan to give humanity a Messiah, a unique messiah that lived a life as one of us and experience the hardships of life that we all experience. Jesus has also been called "Immanuel," which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). Therefore God sent Jesus as a Messiah that represents himself. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, he promised that God would give humanity another Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit to be with us until his next return:
“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:25.
