“The same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Okay. Understood. Got it. The character of God does not change. That line in particular comes from Hebrews, the same book that tells us that Jesus learned.
So something happened in Christ. Whether or not God learned something about humanity via the incarnation isn’t clear, though one might make the case. It’s also not essential to believe one way or another about this. Christians have long wrestled with whether the incarnation means God in some sense ‘learned’ humanity from the inside. Scripture doesn’t give us a neat answer.
But it is certain from the narrative of Luke and the commentary of Hebrews that Jesus the Christ learned as he grew. It’s one thing to learn facts and figures. It’s another thing to learn about life. It seems from Mary’s story about Jesus’ extra time spent in Jerusalem that something unique was already there - a wisdom beyond any normal 12 year old. (By the way, how did they lose Jesus for four whole days? Where was he sleeping? What was he eating? Didn’t any of the adults he interacted with try to find his parents?)
But perhaps there is something about empathy. While God created humanity in the beginning, is it fair to say God did not experience humanity until Jesus was born? Maybe this isn’t important. But it’s also possible that the relationship between God and creation deepened in powerful ways through Jesus’ experience.
Regardless, Luke makes it clear that though Jesus possessed a divine wisdom even as a child, he still yet matured in wisdom as he grew. Yet another solidarity with the human experience.
…but also an exemplary growth as he models what it truly means to be human.
God’s character does not change. But the biblical witness both before Jesus, during his life, and after, is very clear the way God relates to creation shifts dramatically in Christ.
This can’t be missed. Many people of God appeal to the actions of God prior to Jesus’ life and witness. In one sense, there is much to be learned from God’s character in this way. But in Christ, we find the truest understanding of the action of God. Does that mean it supersedes the prior things? Not really. And it of course does not mean that we harm or kill those who hold to the prior things, or even act arrogantly toward them…ugh…just remember the nature of the new things (Jesus), who demonstrated no violence or arrogance toward people. Firmness, for sure. But not arrogance, name-calling, or childish bullying.
Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people.
Goodness, Christians…follow his example.
Luke 2:41-52
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom. After the festival was over, they were returning home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t know it. Supposing that he was among their band of travelers, they journeyed on for a full day while looking for him among their family and friends. When they didn’t find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were shocked.
His mother said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We’ve been looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he said to them.
Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother cherished every word in her heart. Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people.
Psalm 90:1-2, 12
Lord, you have been our help, generation after generation. Before the mountains were born, before you birthed the earth and the inhabited world—from forever in the past to forever in the future, you are God.
Teach us to number our days so we can have a wise heart.
Prayer
God,
I really can’t thank you enough for Jesus. The cross, the empty tomb - all eternally significant.
But I’m especially grateful this morning for the experience he entered into: ours. Your choice to save humanity and the world not from the outside, but from within - it’s remarkable.
You now know because of Christ that to be in solidarity is to be truly human in the best of ways. You chose this path. And I am eternally grateful.
Now help me to return the balance of the equation by living up to the wisdom and maturity to which you have called us. I will certainly need the help of your grace.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.