A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
Scripture for the Day (November 7, 2016)
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:40)
Jesus became strong in spirit, in mind, intellect, and understanding. Jesus had a human soul, and that soul was subject to all the proper laws and limitations of a human. He increased in knowledge, strength, and character. He grew physically, mentally, and spiritually as an example for us.
Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” The Amplified Bible says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.” Other translations define stature as age or maturity. He matured just like any other Jewish boy. The difference with Jesus was that He went after understanding as we see in these next verses.
Luke 2:46-47 says, “After three days they (his parents) found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”
The Greek word for understanding is sunesis which means a putting together; quickness of apprehension; the critical faculty for clear apprehension; intelligently assessing a situation. Sunesis is comparable to us saying, “putting two and two together.”
Jesus was discovering the plans God had for His followers as He outlined in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jesus was a student of the Word of God as we see from Luke 2:46 where He was listening and asking questions. As we see from this next verse He maintained that faithfulness to go to the synagogue and gain wisdom and understanding.
Luke 4:16 says, “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”
How can we tell that Jesus was filled with wisdom and understanding? Because, He was filled with the Word of God as we see in Luke 4:4; 8 and 12. In each of those verses, when Jesus was tempted by the devil, He spoke the Word of God to him. You have to know the Word of God to be able to speak it.
Jesus said in John 12:49-50, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
God’s Word is the Word of the Father and that’s what Jesus spoke and it’s what we should be speaking. I Peter 4:11 says, “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.”
Jesus was a man. He was subject to the same challenges and limitations that we are. He came not only to be our savior but to challenge us to walk as He walked. Study to show yourselves approved, hide the Word of God in your heart, increase in wisdom and understanding, grow in favor with God and man. We do all this by hiding God’s Word in our heart so it will come out our mouth (Psalm 119:11) at all appropriate times. That is how Jesus overcame and that is how we will overcome.
