Jesus' Youth and Family Life

Jesus' Boyhood and Family Life
We don't know a lot of details about Jesus growing up. But, today we are going to look at what we do know. This will serve as a conclusion to the previous two messages about Jesus' conception and birth.
Fake accounts of Jesus' childhood exploits and miracles were dreamed up by the gnostic writers of the 2nd and 3rd century, some of these ridiculous stories were picked up by the Qur'an written in the 8th century. These imaginative tales (full of tricks and childish displays of supernatural powers) only detract from the information found in the four gospels which is limited, realistic and serious minded.
Jesus’ Example in Youth
Here is the only actual record of an event from Jesus youth:
Luke 2:41-52 of all that scripture could have said about Jesus' we are only told what's important... as a youth Jesus sought God... He wanted to find out more... He interacted with His elders on matters of truth and knowledge about God... and found those answers in the scriptures. We see the humanity of Jesus in that He matures in wisdom and stature (mentally and physically). Like us, but without sin.
He also shows an early awareness of His personal relationship to God as His true Father. Jesus begins to cut His own path while remaining subject to His parents. The 12 year old Jesus' independent action here gives the first inkling in the gospels of the importance of a spiritual family superseding the biological... when the time is right.
Of all the things that could have been said about Jesus as a pre-teen, or teen... we are only told what is most important... He actively sought out understanding of God in His youth. The bible is consistent on this point: seek God while you are young.
Verse 51 Mary stores these memories in her heart... pondering them but not understanding them fully. The heart of a mother makes them great prayer warriors an behalf of children.
Jesus at 12 years old would be 8 A.D. - then we zoom forward about 18-19 years (27 A.D.) when the final preparations for Jesus upcoming years of ministry are completed. He would have been around age 30.
Jesus is Ready
Luke 3 depicts Jesus intermediately before He began His spiritual ministry. Scripture confirms His readiness to represent Israel... and all humanity... as king, messiah, and savior:
1.Luke 3:1-20 John the Baptist and the OT prophecies point to Jesus (a sample is given)
2.Luke 3:21-22 Jesus’ baptism provides a material sign of His appointment
3.Luke 3:28-30 Jesus' genealogy shows His roots go back to David, Abraham, and Adam showing He is of the royal line, the son of promise, and the Son of man.
4.Luke 4:1-13 Jesus shows His power over the spirit world (resists Satan's temptation)
Note: Jesus did not do anything to "become" qualified. He merely demonstrates that He is qualified… and always was.
1.Clearing the Path
John the baptist (last of the OT prophets) prepares the way for Jesus' upcoming ministry. He preaches repentance... turning of the heart. Luke 3:4-6 The quotation from Isaiah 40:3-5 speaks of one who straightens paths, fills in valleys... meaning removing and leveling every obstacle standing in the way of people receiving the King.
John's preaching includes correction and rebuke directed toward sin, but also leveling the humanly devised strongholds of class, race, and privilege (which have a lot to do with how and why people resist God's truth). Jesus, and then His Church, will carry forward the same message.
2.Jesus' Baptism
Before entering into His ministry Jesus is baptized.
Luke 3:21-22 Jesus did not need to be baptized for the remittance of His sin (He was without sin). John knew that, Matthew 3:13-17. Jesus was baptized as a material sign of His appointment and calling. His baptism provides an example for others to follow.
The Father uses sound and vision to affirm the reality of His calling to Jesus. In Luke's account the Father's words are to Jesus, saying "You are My Son"... In Mathew's account we are told "He (Jesus) saw the spirit descending like a dove upon Himself".
Didn't Jesus already know this stuff?
Yes, but if Jesus was fully human (He was) then He was subject to temptation (He was but He never gave in to temptation). Any flesh and blood human will have moments in their life when they wonder "is this God stuff all real?"... "am I really called by God or am I just delusional?"
We all have moments when God has shown Himself to us through answered prayer or miraculous help. We need to remember those to get us through those rough spots when trials test our faith.
A)The Father affirmed His calling in a way Jesus could see and hear. B) Through baptism Jesus committed Himself to God in a material way... witnessed by onlookers... and seen by God.
Final Steps to Growing in Awareness
Luke 2:32 told us Jesus as a boy grew and matured in understanding. That's part of being human. Jesus didn't pop out of the womb fully formed (physically, or spiritually). Now He is a 30 year old man the maturing process is coming to a successful conclusion... We have all been through this: when we are a child we think as a child... then we become an adult and the way we think changes. That's the human experience… except Jesus was without sin.
Before entering into His ministry, Jesus takes the final steps in fully embracing what it means to be God's son, the Messiah and the Savior of Humanity. The final step will be the temptation in the wilderness.
3.Jesus' Genealogy
Luke 3:23 starts with his birth parents... verse 31 traces His lineage back to David (Jesus has the legal right to be king)... verse 33 traces His lineage back to Abraham (He is the seed of Abraham who will be a blessing to all nations and peoples Genesis 12)... verse 38 traces His lineage back to Adam (reminding us Jesus shares being human with all who ever lived).
Luke records this lineage for the benefit of present and future readers showing Jesus has the “legal” qualifications of the true Messiah. This lineage would have also been known by Jesus' himself and would be yet another way He would know in the flesh what He knew in the Spirit. He could look at the genealogical records Himself. They were probably stored in the synagogue. He could read using His own eyes and reason with His own mind that this was real.
In a similar way we all have scripture and human history to refer back to. We can affirm (and should) that biblical events really happened... and therefore future events will happen: such as the resurrection of the dead, or the return of Christ in full power and glory.
4.Temptation in the Wilderness
Luke 4:1-13 Prior to the beginning of His official ministry we get a final example of the spiritual maturity He had grown into.
Jesus, the flesh and blood man must struggle with, and overcome, false ideas of what being God's Son, and humanity's savior means. In the wilderness Jesus demonstrates He can withstand the temptation of His flesh and blood and is ready for what lays ahead:
The hunger of His body - will He use His power and authority to satisfy the needs of His own flesh rather than serve God?
Authority without sacrifice - will He take power and try to fix the world now rather than at the time appointed by God?
Safety of His body - will He use the supernatural power at His command to save and protect His own flesh rather than endure suffering?
The desired outcomes are not evil. Surely you should feed yourself Jesus... surely you should take charge your the best man for the job... surely God will no let you come to any harm, but test it. The goals sound good... but, the ways to accomplish them are bad.
The bible tells us... the ends do not justify the means. This is a point upon which flesh and blood human beings mess up over and over.
Humans can rationalize all sorts of bad behavior... killing and mayhem today to bring about a better world tomorrow... lying and cheating when necessary as we work towards a higher goal of justice… the bible simply puts it this way; "a thorn bush does not bear figs".
Genesis 3:5 the goal looked good but the means brought about death.
Joseph's Son
Luke 4:14-23 Jesus announces His ministry in His home town. People think He speaks well but they've all know him since He was a kid. They would like a sign... but none is given. They had all watched Him grow up from a child and mature into a man... perhaps that should have been enough... the people of Nazareth disagreed and they get violent Verse 29-30.
Jesus humanity was a stumbling block for people who had known Him as a kid. It was also a challenge for His own family.
Mark 3:20-21 Jesus has just started to go about Galilee preaching. His family had a hard time taking Him seriously. Yes, He was performing the signs and miracles of a Messiah... but my son who's diapers I changed... my older brother who I played stick ball with?
Note: sometimes we won’t let others to grow up and overcome… we hold on to some memory of their immaturity and don’t let go… but God doesn’t so that to you. He lets you overcome, He sees you as what you’ve become… not what you were. Let’s do that same for one another.
Mark 3:31-35 Jesus mother and brothers had no prior claim on Him. They had no spiritual priority based on their blood connection. This was an object lesson for all Israel. They thought they had God's attention and favor because they were the promised descendants of Abraham.
Doing the will of God (keeping His commandments, living the fruits of the spirit, learning and living what it means to love like God)... this is what creates lasting satisfying relationships… this is what brings you into the true and everlasting family of God.
Your parents get old... they die. Your kids grow up... they move on. You get old... you die. But God's family is forever, and God wants you to become part of it.
Jesus’ Brothers
Mark 6:1-4 at the end of His ministry in Galilee Jesus visits His home town. Presumably to visit His mother and family. The town folk still cannot see Him as messiah or savior. He's just that local boy Jesus. We also learn the names of His brothers.
Jesus has expanded His ministry to the areas adjacent to Galilee; Samaria, the Decapolis, Tyre & Sidon. He has not yet gone to preach in Jerusalem, but He's ready
John 7:1-5 His brothers still do not believe Him yet.
After His death and resurrection we know His brothers James and Jude come to believe Jesus is the Messiah, savior, and son of God. Notice that in the NT documents written by them neither of them identify themself as Jesus brother... but as their Lord and Master James 1:1 and Jude 1:1.
They come to the point where their spiritual connection to Him supersedes their blood connection to Him. Their connection to Jesus is now within the everlasting family of God.
Jesus Mother
John 19:25-27Jesus' final thoughts included providing for His beloved mother (who would have been around 50). He asks His closest disciple John to take care of her. Notice He entrusted her to John's care rather than to her other sons; Jude, James, Simeon, or Joseph. I think this indicates Jesus wanted to place Mary into the protection and care of the greater family which is His Church.
After this we hear nothing more of Jesus’ faith filled, loving, mother. She is not mentioned in the ongoing story of the Church. Her husband Joseph had died earlier, but he is remembered in scripture as a righteous and gentle man entrusted with raising up Godly offspring… a precious and important task.
Conclusion:
Jesus grew up in a good family, but we are not invited into the privacy of the family moments of His youth. What we are given to know is what we need to know. Our greatest hope and fulfillment is to found in the family of God.