Dr. Ed Young - The Childhood of Jesus (11/28/2025)
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The preacher reflects on Psalm 23's promise that goodness and mercy follow believers all their days, leading to eternal dwelling with the Lord, but notes many missed a proper childhood; using Luke 2:40-52, he shows Jesus' unique recorded childhood teaches that growth in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man comes through listening, questioning, and submitting in family and faith.
Goodness and Mercy Following Us
We’re familiar with the 23rd Psalm. Right at the end, it says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” I heard someone teach on this passage years ago. He said, “You know, I believe goodness and mercy were the names of the shepherd’s sheepdogs,” and it really works. Goodness and mercy would take the sheep and herd them up, and that’s what goodness and mercy do with you and me, isn’t it?
A Blessing Many Missed
Goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life, and the result is you’ll be at home in the house of the Lord forever. Goodness and mercy! A lot of us could stand and give witness today and say in my life, goodness and mercy have followed me all the days. What a tremendous blessing and privilege that is! But there are others of us who would stand and say, “I can’t say that’s true of me. Goodness and mercy have not followed me all the days of my life,” because so many people, tragically, did not have a childhood for various reasons.
The Tragedy of a Lost Childhood
If you are one of those who did not have a childhood, that is one of the most tragic things that could happen to any individual. Childhood is a place where you can grow up in a family environment where you’re safe and secure, loved and encouraged. You have cheerleaders there; you have disciplinarians there as well. But to have a childhood that’s full and complete, with fun and joy and a chance to grow up, we have a little bit about Jesus' childhood in Luke 2, verses 40 through 52—12 verses about the child Jesus.
Searching the Scriptures for Childhood Examples
For a long time, I said, “You know, I wish we knew more about those hidden years.” We know about His Nativity, do we not? But we don’t know a whole lot about His childhood, just those little 12 verses. I had the brilliant idea to go and find the great people of the Bible: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, David, Solomon. I would look and study their childhood, see what was in their childhood that led them to greatness, to service—Ruth, Naomi, and all the personalities of the Bible.
A Surprising Discovery
I said, “You know, I’m going to look, and I’m going to put all the things about their childhood together and mesh it with this little bit we know about Jesus, and boy, we’ll have a formula for what childhood should be, how it should perform, and what should be the ingredients?” I looked and I looked and I found out about the childhood of all the other biblical personalities of prominence—they don’t have a childhood! The Bible has no record of the childhood of any of these people.
Jesus' Unique Childhood Record
In fact, the only person in the Bible of any prominence we know anything about their childhood is Jesus, in these 12 verses. He was just about to be Bar Mitzvah when he was 13. What does that mean? He was just about to become a son of the law, an official member of the temple. A big moment in the life of any young Jewish boy! And now he’s 12, and his family invites him to go with them to the Passover Festival in Jerusalem. Today, in a secular sense, it’d be like telling a 12-year-old boy, “Guess what? We’ve got tickets to the Super Bowl!” Or “We’re going to spend a week in Disney!” Big stuff!
The Journey to Passover
But here, 12-year-old Jesus is taken with Mary and Joseph and now other children because we know that Mary had other children and Joseph had other children, and they’re going to Passover. We read about this encounter very quickly in our scripture. Just a few verses. It says, “The child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” By the way, see verse 41? Look at verse 52; almost the same words. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
The Framing of the Story
We see this—these are two parentheses. It surrounds, it frames the story of Jesus at Passover when He’s a 12-year-old boy. It’s framed in the Bible when you see two verses that are almost alike. The Hebrew scholars would look at any difference in those verses because they know in that parenthesis something important is being shared. This is the story that I’ve been telling, and here Luke tells it in a remarkably short form.
The Parents' Custom and the Incident
He says, “Now the parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover, and when He became 12, they went up there according to the custom of the feast. And as they were returning after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware of it. But supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day’s journey and began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.”
Understanding Mary and Joseph's Mistake
You say, “Well, what kind of parents were Mary and Joseph?” Listen to what happened here! They packed everybody up, and they got there. And here the women and the children are walking ahead; here the men are walking behind. This is family; this is neighbors; this is friends. This is a large number of people going back 26 miles to Nazareth, and I am sure Mary, there for the children, must have thought, “Isn’t it terrific? Jesus is not yet officially an adult, but he’s already back there with the men.”
A Relatable Parenting Moment
And then Joseph, back there with the men, said, “Well, isn’t that something? Jesus is up there with the mother and the kids; he’s still not back here with the guys!” Can’t you see it? All of us have lost children! Don’t be so biased! They’ve been to Costco on Saturday! Where is he? My glory! He’s around here somewhere! You’re looking for him, “No, I had him! What’s the matter?” So we know the fear that was felt—this was Mary and Joseph—but they’ve gone a day’s journey, 26 miles!
The Search for Jesus
They’ve walked a marathon, and now they realize he is not anywhere in the company. They go back—they have a marathon walk the next day—a day’s journey out, roughly 26 miles, a day’s journey back. They get to Jerusalem, and they look for him a day. And hey, they can’t find him until, finally, toward the end of the day—Jesus lost! Now Jesus found! And this is the instructive part for us. Then, after three days, they found him—a day away, a day back, a day looking—in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
Amazed at His Understanding
And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. Jesus! That’d be the outer court of the temple; he would be in the middle of the scholars, the theologians, the renowned people of Israel because they would all have been there, all talking the Bible, talking the law, talking the Messiah. And now Jesus is right there, 12 years old—not even a part of the Temple—yet he would be sitting in the midst of them. Notice what He was doing—very important! Listening, asking questions, answering the questions that were asked of Him by the renowned of that day. And it said Jesus had understanding!
The Reunion and Jesus' Response
And now Jesus lost; now Jesus is found by Mary and Joseph. And look what they do! Verse 48: “And when they, Mary and Joseph, saw Him, they were astonished!” Here He is in the temple, sitting among all these philosophers, theologians—they were astonished at where He was! But here’s the mother, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us this way?” I’ve heard that a lot of times when I was growing up! “Why have you treated us this way?” How many have ever heard your mom or dad say that to you? Yeah, sure they did!
Mary's Concern and Jesus' Reply
And then she piles on: “Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.” That’s what Mary did. Parents—Jesus lost; they found Him—Jesus was found. But then we read this next verse. Jesus responds, and this is staggering! Jesus said, “I was not lost.” We just read about His lostness. We just read about them finding Him, but Jesus said, “I wasn’t lost!” Listen to how He answered! He said, “Why?” By the way, the first recorded word of Jesus in the Bible is “why.” He said, “Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house?”
Preparation for Bar Mitzvah
You have to watch and listen closely to see what’s going on here. From 12 to 13, a father had to spend an unusual amount of quality time with that 12-year-old boy, getting him ready to be Bar Mitzvah, to get him ready to be an adult, getting ready for him to be an official member of the temple. He would train him in Scripture and words and knowledge, and he would train him in the family vocation, which was carpentry. That would have been the calling of Jesus.
Jesus' True Father
So Joseph, the surrogate father, would have had to spend an unusual amount of time and energy with 12-year-old Jesus preparing him to be a carpenter—that would be the family vocation—and preparing him to know all the verses that were necessary to go through the ritual of being Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem, probably at the Passover the next year. This was required—spend time with the father; father, spend time with the son. And Jesus is saying, “Why? Why were you concerned about me? I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Not Lost, But in His Father's Business
When something is where it’s supposed to be, it’s not lost, is it? Jesus was saying, “Dad, Mom, you know that Joseph, my stepfather, is not my father. My Father is God, and I’m right where I’m supposed to be as a 12-year-old boy. I’m getting ready. I’m spending time with my Father. I’m in my Father’s house. I’m doing my Father’s business!” Literally, in the Greek, it says, “I’m doing the things of my Father,” preparation for his calling—not to be a carpenter but to be the Messiah, as we see that coming on 18 years later.
A Mind-Boggling Claim
You got it! That is so important that we understand! And, by the way, when He said “My Father,” mind-boggling! Fourteen times in the Old Testament you see the word “father” mentioned—never in a personal way! It’s the father of the nation, or Abraham is the father of people; it’s in that sense in the Old Testament! But here in the New Testament, Jesus right up front in Luke says, “My Father!” Mind-boggling! Unbelievable! Able to talk of God as “Abba! My Father!”
Growing in His Father's Presence
We say in the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father in heaven.” I’m spending time with my father! This is where I’m supposed to be! This is the closest I can get to Him with these people who know the Scriptures so thoroughly, and they’re building this in my life! And I’m listening to them, and I’m answering their questions, and I’m asking them questions! I’m growing up with my Father! I’m not lost, Mom and Dad! I’m right where I’m supposed to be to grow up and achieve the purpose for which I was brought into this world.
Jesus' Obedience and Growth
Now how does this relate to us? Look at verse 51: “And He went down with them, Jesus, and came to Nazareth, and He continued—in this is the word—subjection.” Mary and Joseph, His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Here’s that verse repeated again! “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom, and increasing in stature, and in favor with God and man.” Let me tell you something: is there anybody here that would not like to increase in wisdom? We all want more wisdom!
What Is Wisdom?
What is wisdom? It is facts put into practice intelligently. It’s common sense on steroids! Wisdom—the word “proverb”—it means here are principles in the Book of Proverbs. It is proverb; you put it into action! A verb is an action! In other words, you take that which you know, and you properly apply it in decision-making, the choices, and the purpose for your life—that’s wisdom! Wouldn’t we all like to have wisdom? Wisdom, knowledge, and action!
Growing in Stature and Favor
And He grew in stature! Stature here—we see that Jesus was growing up, maturing like this 12-year-old young man will do. And many of that age, but for us who are adults, it means we grow in health! God wants us to take care of the temple, ladies and gentlemen; it’s where He dwells! He has a purpose! We grow in stature, and wouldn’t everybody like to do that? And in favor with God—favor! Favor means to lean toward! God leans toward us when we have clean hands and a pure heart so we can worship. Then He shows favor to us!
Favor Is Not Random
It’s not just a zap! You’ve got favor! Boom! You don’t have favor! No, no, no! Favor with God means He leans toward us, and then we’re able to lean toward Him. And when He leans toward us, in order to lean toward Him, we have to have clean hands and a pure heart, and that’s the miracle of healing and health and holiness—walking with Christ! That’s who He shows favor to! That’s how we get God’s favor! That’s how He leans toward us!
Favor with Man
Favor with man—that’s relationships! Hey, you’ve got this going! You’re growing in wisdom! Hey, that helps in relationships, doesn’t it? We don’t say and do so many stupid things, and we grow in wisdom! We grow in stature! You know, we’re healthy inside and out; we’re whole! If we missed our childhood, it’s being filled in again! Those gaps are being replaced, and now, all of a sudden, we have favor with God, and other people are drawn to us! Like we have favor with other people!
Practical Application for Children
Now let’s break this down another step—a practical step. How would this operate in the life of a child? A child from whatever—let’s say 7, 8, 9, 12, 18, maybe 25, maybe 30, as did with Jesus because Jesus went back home! Did you see this? Even after this experience, He went back home! Look at that word—He subjected Himself! For another 18 years to his folks, He subjected Himself! Children, teenagers, young adults—subject yourself to your parents—surrender!
How to Subject Yourself
Well, how do I do that? It’s right there in the Scripture! Listen to them! Ask them questions you really want answers to and answer the questions they ask you with absolute truthfulness and transparency! Kids, you want to grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and favor with man! That’s how you do it! It’ll work every time—foolproof! 100% accurate! Listen; ask the right questions and answer the questions you’re asked! Subject yourself to your home, your family, to adults!
Guidance for Parents and Adults
Okay, how do we operate as parents? The word there is treasure. It says Mary treasured these things—this knowledge! She was growing and understanding about this prodigious child of God, who was indeed the Messiah! She treasured these things in her heart! Parents, we treasure our children, and a byproduct of that, we grow in wisdom and knowledge and favor—God’s favor!
Listening and Treasuring
Well, how do older adults, grandparents, people married—how do we grow up? The same way! We listen to our kids! You need to listen 30 times before you say one word to your boy or girl all the way through their life! You do that, and you’re beginning to have a little common sense! It’s called wisdom! Listen! You ask questions of your kids—not questions, “Where did you go? What did you do?” No, no, not just those questions, but questions that support them—questions you think they may want to answer!
The Temple Principle for All
You ask those questions along with the others, but you ask questions of your kids! You listen; you ask questions, and when they ask you a question, you answer that question with respect and understanding, age appropriately! That’s how we grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God, favor with man! The same way we treasure! And if we treasure our kids, we listen, we ask questions, and we answer the questions they ask. If kids are to be submissive, they do the same thing! The temple principle works for every one of us.
Imagining a Transformed Life
And look how life would be if these practical steps were employed by you and by me! Can you picture it? Can you picture a home, a family, a couple, an individual man growing in wisdom—man, growing in stature—oh, health! In favor with God? Oh, yes! And favor with your peers and in relationships? Do you want to debate with me about whether or not this will work? No! You see that it works! It’s practical! It’s simple! It is biblical truth!
Finding Jesus Today
Now I want to ask you a couple of questions, talking about lost and found. Does anyone here want to find Jesus? Do you want to find Jesus? What will I do? Turn around! Turn around! If you want to find Jesus, all you have to do is turn around! And I promise you, He wants to find you more than you want to find Him! If the truth be known, He’ll be right there.
Rediscovering a Lost Jesus
Number two: “I’ve lost Jesus!” Oh, I have lost Jesus! You know, I was in the church; I was faithful; I read my Bible, and I had sort of this together. I thought I was pretty religious, and I think I’m a Christian, but I’ve lost Jesus! Okay, if you never found Jesus—that’s how you find Him! But now, this is for those who have known Him or have some relationship with Him of some sort, and now you say, “I want to find Jesus.” What do you do? You turn around! But He’s not right there!
The Journey Back to Fellowship
You may be a Christian, but you turn around; He’s not right there! Because you may have to take a marathon walk, as Mary and Joseph did, to go back to find Jesus through all the trash! You’ve got to go back! And there’s some trash there I haven’t dealt with! “Lord, there’s some trash there! There’s trash there! There’s trash there!” I don’t know how far or how long you’ll have to walk, but the Holy Spirit will take you back through that trash!
Restoration Through Confession
And it will be burned; it will be forgiven as you confess it! It will be covered up by His blood! And then you’re back in fellowship with Jesus! And then He has been in your heart, and now you say, “Jesus, I want you to once again make Your home in my heart! My heart—Christ’s home!” You got it? Boy, that’s it!