"The Child Grew . . . Filled with Wisdom"
Luke 2:39-52 and Proverbs
Luke 2:39–52 (ESV) 39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of
the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew
and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. 41 Now his
parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was
twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as
they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know
it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they
began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did
not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they
found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them
questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you
in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying
that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was
submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And
Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Proverbs 3:1–6 (ESV) 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my
commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write
them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of
God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your
paths.
Christmas is coming. It is the season to celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world. We call
this time of the year Advent. The word means arrival. We await the arrival of our Lord in more
ways than one.
These are weeks of anticipation. We are only days away from Bethlehem Revisited. We
anticipate the joy of sharing the Christmas story as groups wander the hills above Keats. We
also anticipate opening gifts that have waited under Christmas trees or in stockings. We
anticipate family gatherings.
I look forward to these weeks before Christmas to continue a series I began six years ago. I've
played with the title of this series, but have settled on what you see in the box near the top of
the notes. "Anticipating Jesus: Advent in the Old Testament."
The plan is to take one book of the Old Testament each week and see how that book looks
forward to Jesus. God's Old Testament people serve as our example. They waited centuries for
the Messiah. They yearned to experience the fulfillment of all that God had promised. But
there's more to this study than just looking back at Jesus' first coming.
What This Series Is All About?
Christ-Centered Bible Study. What is this series all about? I highlight two purposes. The first is
Christ-Centered Bible study. As a pastor I want Christians in the church to read their Bibles well,
but most of us struggle with putting the whole Bible together.
We feel like we're working on a corner of one of those 1,000 piece puzzles that someone
receives as a Christmas present. We put the details together unless we can frequently look at
the box top and see the big picture.
Jesus shows us how to do that. Luke 24:25-27 are critical verses for anyone who desires to
understand the Bible. Jesus is talking with two of his disciples after he has miraculously come
back to life after his crucifixion. They cannot recognize him.
Luke 24:25–27 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that
the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these
things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he
interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
The Scriptures that were recognized at that time were the Old Testament. Jesus claims that the
Scriptures are all about him. Every part of the Old Testament is about him. We don't want to be
foolish and miss this. When we read the Old Testament well it will lead us to see Jesus as the
one who came to earth as a baby, grew up to suffer and then enter into his glory waiting to
return to earth to reign as King.
Looking Beyond the Holidays to Christ’s Return. This brings us to our second purpose. We
desire to be looking beyond the holidays to Christ's return. We want our desire to see Jesus to
be far stronger than our desire to go on vacation or get presents or see grandma. Titus 2:11–13
describes our perspective.
Titus 2:11-13 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,
upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing
of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Verse 11 describes Christ's first coming. Verse 13 looks forward to his second. Verse 12
describes how we must live between the two.
What Proverbs is All About
This morning we'll aim at these two goals by focusing on the Old Testament book called
Proverbs. If we brainstormed word associations for Proverbs most would begin with the word
wisdom. Proverbs is a book about wisdom. Proverbs appears in a section of the Old Testament
called wisdom literature. Proverbs reveals wisdom to us on at least three levels.
Proverbs Reveals the Meaning of Wisdom
At the most basic level, Proverbs describes what wisdom is. The book contains a nine-chapter
introduction that seeks to convince the reader that wisdom is worth pursuing. Beginning in
chapter 10 the book collects hundreds of short and memorable sayings that try to define what
wisdom looks like.
The human writers of Proverbs are wise and godly men who observe life in all its beauty and
variety. They teach how to live in this world in a way that brings both glory to God and good to
those who pursue wisdom.
Their lessons touch on even the most basic activities of life. Proverbs is a practical book.
Wisdom concerns eating, drinking, working, sleeping, making friends, loving, sexual activity,
parenting, sowing and harvesting, communicating, laughing, and listening.
The Proverbs are filled with common word pictures and not-so-common common sense. But as
we read Proverbs we sense that becoming wise is not simply a matter of learning and applying
certain information. Proverbs is practical but not pragmatic. It's not just about what works.
Proverbs Reveals the Necessity of Wisdom
There is a second level of understanding. Proverbs reveals the necessity of wisdom. This is true
for the reader personally and for a leader.
Personally. This is true for the reader personally. You must have wisdom even to make sense
of this book. Take these two verses that appear back to back in Proverbs 26. First, “Answer not
a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.”1 And then, “Answer a fool according
to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”2
1
Proverbs 26:4
There's no mistake here. The same author appears to offer a contradiction. The simple reader
throws up his hands in confusion. Which verse leads to wisdom? They both do. The reader
realizes that he must take the basic information found in this book and apply it to life taking
into consideration the context and many other factors. It takes wisdom to get at the wisdom in
this book.
This week I was in the home of one of the older couples at Grace. As we talked they bemoaned
the loss of the work ethic in our society. People did not know how to work hard. A few minutes
later, the same person lamented how people today did not understand how to take time to
quietly meditate.
A simplistic response would point out the contradiction and demand to know which it is. Is the
problem we don't work or that we work too much? The wise response is to recognize that this
couple was advocating a whole-life approach to living that requires wisdom to live out in proper
balance but that would bring great blessing.
For Our Leader. This is true not only for the individual reader but also for our leader. The book
of Proverbs is written to the future king. Most of its contents come from Solomon the king. He
writes to his son to prepare him to take his place on the throne. The very purpose of the book
underscores the necessity of wisdom if one hopes to lead others.
We have begun to wade into the waters of a presidential election. We're asking ourselves what
kind of leader do we want for the next four years. Christians pray that God would give wisdom
to the person who takes the office of president.
Wise decisions not only bless the leader but all of the people under his rule. Proverbs reveals
the necessity of wisdom even to apply the truth in its pages.
It Reveals the Foundation of Wisdom
Yet the secret to Proverbs is much more than just cleverly discovering how to balance all the
different teachings in its wise sayings. It reveals the fountain of wisdom. Throughout the book
there is the assumption that the source or fountain of wisdom and life is not found within
ourselves but from another much more significant source.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom
and instruction.
The desire for wisdom flows out of a right relationship with God that moves us to worship and
obey him. We cannot have one without the other. The fool has no desire to live with and love
2
Proverbs 26:5
God. One must have godly wisdom to be in relationship with God. But wisdom is the result of
knowing God rightly not the requirement to earn that relationship.
Jesus: Wisdom in Real Life
When Jesus comes he models the book of Proverbs. This is true even in the brief accounts of his
boyhood. In Jesus we see perfect wisdom developed, wisdom displayed and Spirit-driven
wisdom.
Perfection Developed. The passage from Luke 2 that I read earlier mentions that Jesus grew
and was filled with wisdom. “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And
the favor of God was upon him.”3 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor
with God and man.”4
Since He was fully God, Jesus was perfect. His wisdom represented the ideal of wisdom. Since
He was fully Man, He had to grow -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He had to gain
wisdom.
Wisdom Displayed. So we see wisdom displayed. At every age, Jesus demonstrated the ideal
wisdom for that age. He serves as an example to all children. He lives out the book of Proverbs
perfectly.
When we see Jesus in the temple at 12, our response should be to marvel at this unique human
being who came into the world on a special mission as God. But we should also see in this
passage an invitation to encourage youth in their learning about God and growing in wisdom.
Our society treats twelve year-olds as merely two-year olds with a lot more disposable income.
We live in a Peter Pan culture where not growing up looks noble. Jesus' example points in a
different direction. Our youth are capable of in-depth learning and application. We dare not
dumb down the faith thinking that they cannot handle it. They have a greater aptitude than we
give them credit for.
When Jesus becomes human and lives on earth, he lays aside direct access to divine privileges
and lives here in full dependence on the Holy Spirit. He lives the life we should live. When it
comes to wisdom, Jesus did not have an IV drip from heaven filling him up. He learned wisdom
through the study of the Scriptures.
3
Luke 2:40
4
Luke 2:52
In his youth he very likely studied the book of Proverbs. He observed life and sought to apply
the wisdom of Scripture to it relying on the Holy Spirit for understanding. He was preparing to
be King.
Spirit-Driven. His wisdom was Spirit-driven. Isaiah prophesies of the coming Messiah.
Isaiah 11:1–2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from
his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of
wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and
the fear of the LORD.
The Spirit came on Jesus in a special way at his baptism as He entered into his public and
unique ministry. But the Spirit was not absent in his life to that point.
How Proverbs Points Us To Jesus
So how does Proverbs point us to Jesus? Let me give three answers that I hope will move us to
deeper worship and obedience.
Jesus IS what we lack
Jesus GIVES what we lack
Jesus BRINGS what we lack.
Jesus IS what we lack. Last week we read about sin from Romans 1. We read our life stories in
the account of our rejection of God and his abandoning us to the consequences of our sin. I
note how often our sin is referred to as foolishness. In our sin, we lack wisdom. We refuse to
fear God. Instead we either use him to get what we want or we abuse Him and His ways as if He
did not exist.
We either act like fools, destroying our lives, or we try hard to act wise, become wise in our
own eyes, and fall into pride. We think that God will be impressed with our clever but worldly
wisdom. Both approaches end in disaster. We need true wisdom if we are to enjoy a
relationship with God.
And just like Jesus lived a sinless life to earn righteousness for us, so He lived a perfectly wise
life to earn wisdom for us. Consider the glorious declaration of
1 Corinthians 1:28–31 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that
are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the
presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us
wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is
written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
God certainly chose what is low and despised when He placed his Son in a cattle trough and
called Shepherds to worship him. He placed his Son, the heir of his throne, in Nazareth, to grow
up as a carpenter in a common family. Later, He placed his Son on a cross where sinners spat on
their Substitute. Jesus forfeited the blessings that should come to a human being who lives such
a wise and reverent life.
And through all this, Jesus was becoming wisdom for us. By faith in Him we have the wisdom
that delights in the fear of the Lord.
If you are here today and realize that your life is full of the foolishness that cannot enter God's
presence, you must turn and trust that Jesus is the wisdom you lack. You cannot attain this
wisdom by your own learning and living. It is God's gift through faith in Christ.
Jesus GIVES What We Lack. As we have seen, Jesus sets for us an example of true wisdom. At
every age and in every life situation, Jesus acted in wisdom gaining favor with God and for a
time with man.
Yet He is much more than an example. Colossians 2 promises that believers can reach full
assurance of understanding because Jesus holds all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. A
few verses later Paul describes believers as rooted in Christ. Like a root draws all its nutrients
for life from the soil, so a believer draws wisdom from Jesus to live a life pleasing to God.
All this can happen because Jesus has given His Spirit to us who is the Spirit of Wisdom and
understanding.
Jesus BRINGS What We Lack. Proverbs was written by Solomon who received special wisdom
from God to rule as king.
2 Chronicles 1:11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have
not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not
even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you
may govern my people over whom I have made you king,
Solomon had every advantage to rule well and extend God's blessing to his kingdom and to his
heirs. But Solomon failed. His heirs had the benefit of the book of Proverbs. But most of them
ignored its wisdom. Eventually the kingdom was divided and then destroyed.
The book of Proverbs causes us to yearn for a truly wise leader who will lead us into God's
favor. We hope that our next President will be such a leader. But no matter how wise a human
leader is, he will fail and disappoint us. Not until Jesus returns will we enjoy that kind of a King.
Psalm 72 describes the ideal king, full of wisdom. It pictures the kind of King Jesus is. It reveals
the kind of reign He will have when He comes again. We were not created to rule ourselves. We
were made to be subjects of the wisest King who will ever reign. We long to be well led. No
human leader will satisfy.
The wisdom He lavishes on us now only makes us long more for the day when we will enjoy the
pleasures of his kingdom without any separation or sin.
Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.