We celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas time and we celebrate his resurrection at Easter. There is a lot about his ministry in the short time before his crucifixion, but very little is said of his life on earth between his birth and the beginning of his ministry. We only know that he showed wisdom beyond his years and was obedient to his parents.
There are no stories of him performing any miracles until the wedding feast when he turned the water into wine. He was an adult by then and that was the beginning of his ministry. There is no mention of his father, Joseph, when Jesus was crucified, so he may have died some time earlier. Jesus, who learned the carpenter’s trade, may have worked to provide for the family. We are not given details of his early adulthood, but he must have faced all of the same things that I did as a young man.
I can appreciate the fact that Jesus was, in every way, a man. He was human and walked this earth in the flesh. That’s how I can relate to him and know that he faced all of the temptations that I faced. And yet, he who knew no sin, took my sin upon himself and bore it on the cross for me… and for you. Thank you, God, for sending your son to this earth in human form, to be an example for us and to save us. Oh what a Savior!
Luke 2:40 (NLT) - “There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.”