(52)  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Luke 2:52

Explanation:

This week we saw Jesus exhibiting maturity through his actions in this narrative passage.  We saw him showing maturity in what He prioritized.  We saw Him exhibit maturity through a moderate, gentle, and reasonable answer to His mother.  We saw Him exhibit maturity through His submission to the authority of His parents that God the Father had placed Him under.

In today’s text, Luke 2:52, we see the results of the maturity that produced those kinds of responses. 

This same kind of verse came before the narrative.  Notice Luke 2:40:

(40)  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 

Luke 2:40

In verse 52 we see the Bible describe the growth of Jesus. Three words describe the areas of growth:

He grew in wisdom.

This meant that He was growing intellectually and in discernment. 

He grew in stature.

This meant that He was growing physically.  Again, although He was God, He was no less human, and went through all the things that we go through.

He grew in favor.

This word translated “favor” is the same word, “charis”,  found in verse 40.  The idea is that His relationships with those around Him were good.  What kind of relationships?  The verse tells us.  He had favor both vertically and horizontally.  His relationship with God was marked by favor, as well as man.

Here we experience some of the mystery of the incarnation.  Jesus never stopped being God.  Yet, He took on flesh and in so doing went through the growth process that we must go through as well.  He did it without sin, and in doing so is a great example to us of how we should live as well.

Application:

What an incredible statement for what we want our kids to be and how we want them to develop!  What an incredible statement of how we ought to grow ourselves!  As we grow in our discernment, our ability to prioritize, our moderation, our ability to respond appropriately, and in our submission to God’s authority and the human authority we are placed under, there will be blessings in our relationship with God and with those around us.  Spiritually mature people enjoy the results of that maturity in their relationships with God and others.

Response:

Is your life marked by an appropriate level of maturity?

• Are you discerning in prioritizing the eternal?
• Are you reasonable, gentle and moderate in your dealings with others?
• Are you submissive to the authority that is in  your life?
• Are you growing in favor with God and man?