The Jesus We Never Knew

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.
Hebrews 2: 10 - 11 NKJV

Growing up, my brother and I had some pretty good arguments and fights.  I'm guessing that this holds true for many siblings.  However, there was definitely a line that one dared not cross.  See, my brother could needle and poke me six days from Sunday, it was expected.  But let someone from outside the family try this and there would be consequences.  There were many times, in fact, that I stood by as my brother let it be known that nobody makes fun of this kid but him.  I was thinking on this the other day after a discussion with a friend who continues to remain nameless as to what the formative years of Jesus were like.  Sadly, the scriptures we are left with are devoid of much mention of the childhood and teenage years of Christ.  We're told that He grew in knowledge and in favor with the Lord {Luke 2:52}.  However, apart from this brief description we're left wanting to know more about the formative years of a young Jesus.  We're not totally in the dark here, for we can look at the family structure of Jewish families of the time and get a good idea of what everyday life was for a child.  I have no doubt that Jesus not only took in the behaviors other kids do, but tried His parents patience as well.  Sure, Mary and Joseph knew of their Sons importance, but I have a feeling that Jesus Himself was unaware of His own destiny at this point.  We can assume that, to a child such as Jesus, things like playing with His friends and getting into trouble on occasion were just par for the course.  We know that young Jesus obviously learned the carpentry trade from His own father.  We can assume that His first attempts at carpentry projects may not have turned out too well.  We can assume that Joseph would become frustrated with a young boy who would rather play with His friends than spend time in the workshop.  Then, eventually, there were those times when young Jesus would need to be reigned in.  These were the times when Mary, Joseph or both, would sit their son down and tell Him what would and wouldn't be acceptable.  Yes, Jesus was He who knew no sin, but I have no doubt that there were times in His early years where He pushed His parents buttons one too many times.  Remember, we're talking here about a young child and teenager, not the Jesus of later years who had come to the realization of who He really was.  Yet, it was in these formative years that the Father was indeed grooming His Son for what was to come.  

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2: 52 NKJV

I've known for some time that the scriptures we study today are terribly void of any description of the early years of Jesus.  I believe that were there such writings, that many would find a connection between themselves and Christ.  As it was, Jesus was as normal a child as you or me.  He laughed, He cried, He hurt and He more than likely felt the discipline of His parents at times.  For how can one have a normal childhood and not receive discipline?  Why did Jesus need to endure these things?  Well, why do our own children need to experience the discipline we give them?  We're told that the Lord chastises those He loves {Hebrews 12:6}.  The brother of Jesus, James, tells us that we should rejoice in the Fathers chastening {James 1:2}.  Far from the harshness of full on punishment, the purpose of Gods chastening is to form us into what He desires for us.  Such was the case with His own Son whom He loved.  It was His Fathers desire that Jesus endure His trials and chastening early in His life as this would prepare Him for His journey to the cross.  Again, our own parents use chastening for instruction, but seldom for outright punishment.  For instruction will often bring its desired result while punishment will give way to resentment.  I can honestly say that Christ Jesus knows exactly the trials I've faced, because He's faced them Himself {Hebrews 4:14-16}.  What temptations have I faced that Jesus Himself has not?  Wait, Jesus was tempted by girls?  Absolutely!  He endured all which we have gone through.  The reason that Jesus knew no sin is because He never ACTED upon His own temptations {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  What is sin?  The apostle James gives us a good definition.  Sin is when we act upon our own desires {James 1:15}.  Yes, we know that through Christ Jesus that we are now dead to sin, but we'll go with it {Romans 6:6-11}.  The bottom line is that young Jesus definitely had desires of His own.  He most assuredly faced those temptations we ourselves have often faced.  Yet, He never acted upon His desires.  How many of us can say that?  What we can honestly say is that we now have a advocate who has endured all we will ever endure and more.  It is He who we can reach out to when our own desires overwhelm us.

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Hebrews 12: 7 - 8 NKJV

~Scott~