"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it. ... And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." (Luke 2:40-43,46-47)
Of one thing each reader of this narrative should rest assured from the very beginning, and that is that Jesus was not, as we sometimes see it stated, "Disputing with the Doctors."
• He was not doing anything that would be unbecoming in a child of twelve years.
• He was not putting himself forward, nor "showing off."
• He was not presuming to teach those learned doctors of the law, nor showing the least disrespect to them.
He was listening to their instruction, and asking them questions on what they were teaching, just as every listener was expected to do. He was seeking knowledge; more wisdom may sometimes be revealed in the questions of a learner than in the instruction of a teacher. The questions of the child Jesus, asked for the purpose of gaining information, showed that He already had a marvelous perception and grasp of truth, greater perhaps than had the doctors.
Later in life, when He was engaged in public labor, "the multitudes were astonished at His teaching, For He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7:28-29,RV)
"And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" (Matthew 13:34)
The true answer to this question is scarcely understood even by the followers of Jesus. If it were, there would be more of the same wisdom among them; for just as truly as "[Christ] emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;" (Philippians 2:7,RV) so that: "It behooved Him in all things to be make like unto His brethren," (Hebrews 2:17) so truly, He possessed no advantages over His brethren, and had access to no sources of wisdom that are not open to all.
In All Things Like unto His Brethren
The common idea concerning Jesus is that He was born with special wisdom; that as an infant He possessed knowledge superior to that of most men; and that He did not need to learn as other folks do, but that His wisdom was inherited, so that He knew everything without any effort. Such an idea not only makes Him a monstrosity, but it places a great gulf between Him and us, so that we have nothing in common with Him, and derive, no help from Him.
All our hope and consolation in Jesus rests in the fact that, as partaker of flesh and blood, He was subject to the same infirmities that we are, was weak and helpless in himself as we are, yet without sin, and by the Divine life dwelling in Him made "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:24)
He came to earth to let men know what God can do in human flesh; and just to the extent that we imagine Him to have "natural" abilities superior to ours, do we deprive ourselves of the grace that is brought to us in Him.
The fact that Jesus was not born with greater knowledge than possessed by other infants, is indicated by the statement that: "[He] increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52)
It would have been as incongruous for Him to be born with perfect wisdom, as to be born with full stature. He increased in wisdom as He grew in age and stature, just as other children are expected to.
In the 5th chapter of Isaiah we have the Lord's own statement of how He obtained the wisdom that made Him the greatest teacher the world has ever seen. That this chapter contains the words of the Lord Jesus, is shown by: "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isaiah 5:6)
Now read verse 4: "The Lord God has given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I should know how to sustain with words him that is weary; He wakens morning by morning. He wakens my ear to hear as they that are taught [or "as disciples"]." (Isaiah 5:4)
Christ was himself, a disciple, a learner from the Father, thus showing that only they who are learners can be apt teachers.
Jesus made no claims to be the possessor of a special gift. He said, "I can of my own self to nothing. ... Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do." (John 5:30,19)
These are not the expressions of false modesty, for Jesus spoke only truth, as He is the Truth; therefore as no man can be any weaker than not to be able to do anything of himself, or more ignorant and not to know anything without being taught, even so there is no person in the world who does not possess the same advantages that Jesus did. Hear Him again: "Then said Jesus unto them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall you know that I am He, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things." (John 8:28)
To Moses God said concerning Jesus, "I will raise, a Prophet from among their brethren like unto you, and I will put my words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him." (Deuteronomy 18:18)
The Promises To All Believers
All this is promised to all believers as well as to Jesus. "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
To "the captive exile" the Lord says, "I have put my words in your mouth." (Isaiah 51:16) "[As] God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself...[even so He has] put in us the word of reconciliation, [so that] He beseeches by us." (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)
If it is given to us to "pray ... in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God," (2 Corinthians 5:20) then of course the same grace, and the same gifts by grace, are bestowed upon us that were bestowed upon Him. "Unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." (Ephesians 4:7)
All this knowledge of Jesus came solely from the Word of God, through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. He asked wisdom and received it just as we may. But we must not suppose that we are to ask for wisdom, and then go to sleep and wake up wise. We are to ask in faith, and that means according to God's promise, which is this: "My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you; So that you incline your ear unto wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yea, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. ... Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path." (Proverbs 2:1-6,9)
To the simple, even to fools and scorners, God says, "Turn at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." (Proverbs 1:23)
Jesus needed no reproof, for He did not turn aside from the way. He said, "I delight to do your will, O my God; yea, your law is within my heart." (Psalm 40:8)
We have sinned, as He did not; but if we will turn at the reproof of the Lord, He will make known to us the same words of wisdom that He did to Christ; for Christ is made unto us wisdom, as well as righteousness. "But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)
How little we have realized the wonderful depths and heights and breadth of wisdom that is contained in the Word of God, to be freely bestowed on all who will humbly, patiently, and prayerfully study them. Both Solomon and He who is "greater than Solomon" derived all their wisdom from this source alone, as we have learned by the inspired testimony of Solomon. God, who through Solomon said, "My son, if you will receive my words ... then shall you understand." (Proverbs 2:1,5) was speaking to His Son Jesus, and also to us, whom He accepts as sons equally with Jesus. Jesus listened and learned. He says, "The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." (Isaiah 50:5)
He has said to us that: "If any man wills to do His will, he shall know." (John 7:17)
This wonderful knowledge is not hidden from children. Nay, the things that are hidden from the worldly wise and prudent are revealed unto babes. "I have more understanding than all my teachers; for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients [the old men], because I keep your precepts." (Psalm 119:99-100)
This is not to the praise of the child, but of the Word, which any child, as well as Timothy and Jesus, may know.
One thing must not be forgotten, and that is that such wisdom accompanies only true humility. The simplicity of real childhood must be maintained. We must always, even with the knowledge which the Word gives, confess that we know nothing except as we are taught.
Natural pride, stubbornness, and unwillingness to acknowledge that we have nothing and are nothing, are the hindrances to the acquirement of true knowledge.
But we have the assurance that the same God whose power bestows upon us the wisdom of Christ is able also to give us His meekness. "But the fruit of the Spirit is ... meekness." (Galatians 5:22-23)
Let us then be not rebellious, but submissive to the Word of wisdom.--Present Truth, May 6, 1897--Timeline: I-8 (First Passover Visit)--Luke 2:40-47.