Growing In Godliness Blog
“Jesus Increased in Wisdom”
Categories: Author: Paul Earnhart, Growth, Jesus, WisdomJesus Increased in Wisdom
By Paul Earnhart
Very little is known about the childhood of Jesus. Many fictitious stories have been circulated; some have even been dramatized on television. But all we really know is what the Bible tells us. And all that the Bible tells us about His life in Nazareth, before He was twelve years old, is found in Luke 2:52. That verse tells us that Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.
It is interesting to learn that Jesus increased in wisdom. Though He was the Son of God, it is evident that in becoming a man He gave up His divine knowledge of all things. The fact that He INCREASED in wisdom proves that He did not have it all as an infant.
Jesus must have increased in wisdom as all other young people do. Doubtless He gained some wisdom from the instruction of His parents. Good parents are important to a young person's development.
We can believe also that He increased in wisdom through life’s experiences and through observation of life around Him.
I do not know if schools were available to Him or not. From some source He learned to read and write, and we can be sure that He took advantage of every opportunity of this kind.
Prayer must have had its part even for Jesus as a child. James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask of God and it will be given to us (Jas 1:5). Of course, when we pray for daily bread, we work for it also. And as Jesus prayed for wisdom from God, He must have read and studied God's word which is a major channel through which God gives us wisdom.
Jesus is an example for young people and older people as well. Each one of us should take advantage of every opportunity to grow in wisdom.
