Jesus depended on His Father in heaven for Everything

Luke 2:39-52

My pastor Ray Still said in a sermon that Jesus is often thought of as a breaker of the Law of God, and went on to state that is just not true, it was men’s additions or changes to the Laws of God that Jesus took exception with.  It is clear that from birth Jesus fulfilled the Laws of God as found in Luke 2:39, “And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.”  (Luke 2:39 ESV)  The next verse gives us an overview of the child Jesus; “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.”  (Luke 2:40 ESV) And what else would you expect from the Son of God, but that thinking is flawed, for those Jesus was the only Son of God, He was also 100% human without sin for His Father was God, not man.  So even as a child Jesus depended on His Father in heaven for everything, and His Father placed godly parents to guide him and teach him how to listen to His Father in heaven.

That takes nothing away from His emotions and desires, and verse 41 reminds me of my youth for each year we went to Lake Worth to my Aunt Violets and Uncle John A’s home for a Golden reunion.  It was the grandest of times, all of us sharing one bathroom, sleeping on mats on the floor and being with family, it still ranks high marks as the best of times.  Just a memory and has little to do with anything but when Jesus was a boy, I’m sure He looked forward to these visits to Jerusalem, for it was what they did every year at the Feast of the Passover.  It was a time for a boy to travel with family, to be with the cousins, with friends and family from back home and to see and hear about God’s favor to the people of Israel.

Now this trip to Jerusalem was when Jesus was twelve years of age, so lets pickup the story in verse 43, “And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” and they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”  (Luke 2:43-52 ESV)

Jesus was always about His fathers business, and there is no doubt in my mind that this was the first time since the angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt with the child and Mary that either parent had been distressed when it came to their son Jesus.  Now Jesus the Son of God who had taken on flesh so that He would pay for our sins by defeating sin and death on a Cross and buying us out of the control of sin, made a choice that day as a 12 year old child to be submissive to His parents, till His Father told him to begin His earthly ministry at age 30.  What an example of power under control, for I have no doubt Jesus the child of 12 was having the best day of His life as He set among the teachers asking questions and giving them answers.  But God’s plan was for later, and God’s plan was for His Son to be obedient to His earthly parents.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice