The Silent 30
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Matthew 2:19-21, 23
“Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel … 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John focus primarily on the miraculous ministry of Jesus, followed by His betrayal, death by crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. But prior to Jesus’s ministry of roughly three and a half years, He lived for thirty years in relative obscurity.
Let’s briefly look at what we do know:
- We know that after fleeing to Egypt to escape wicked Herod at the warning of an angel, Jospeh and Mary were told in a dream that Herod had died and they were safe to return.
- On returning, they decided to move to Nazareth where Jesus would grow up.
- And unbeknownst to Mary and Joseph, their decision was a fulfillment of prophecy: “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene’” (Matt. 2:23 NKJV).
Notes
We’re also told in Luke 2:27 that when Jesus was just a forty-day old baby, He was taken to the Temple and presented to the Lord per the instructions given by Moses in Leviticus 12:1-8. And it was while they were in the Temple that two people—a widow named Anna, and an old saint named Simeon—prophesied over Him.
Simeon predicted that Jesus would be “A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel” (2:32 NKJV).
Anna “gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (2:38 NKJV).
Next, Luke provides a short but powerful synopsis of Jesus’s young, formative years: “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40 NKJV).
Notes
Then Luke relates something that happened when Jesus was only twelve years old. Joseph and Mary had traveled to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of the Passover, which they did annually—and took the 12 year old Jesus with them. When it came time to leave, it says “the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it” (Luke 2:42-43 NKJV).
We read that Joseph and Mary traveled an entire day before realizing Jesus was not in the group they were traveling with. Alarmed by this revelation, they turned around and traveled another day all the way back to Jerusalem in search of Him. The Bible says they searched for three whole days!
And where did they find Him?—In the Temple, surrounded by teachers of the law, both listening to them and asking them questions! These teachers were the intellectual elites of Jesus’s time, famous as doctors of the Law, life long Old Testament scholars.
Now, in those days, older students of these renowned teachers would sit on a low bench sort of looking up at them, and the younger students sat on the ground, literally “at the feet” of these famous instructors. But Jesus had so amazed them by His questions and answers, this traditional seating arrangement had been done away with and the doctors and scholars were found sitting around Him in a circle!
Luke records, “All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (2:47 NKJV).
Notes
But Mary was not amused, and proceeded to tell Jesus what for: “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously!” (2:48)
But listen to the response of the twelve year old Jesus: “Why did you seek Me? Did you now know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (2:49)
Notes
After this event, Luke provides one final glimpse into how Jesus lived out the remaining eighteen silent years prior to His ministry, and this will be our remaining focus: “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them…and increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (2:52).
Now, I believe we can safely assume some things about Jesus’s silent years. Like any young boy, Jesus played, learned, and helped His family with their daily needs and chores. Like all children, He had a “first word” and a “first step.” He had friends He played with growing up in Nazareth. He traveled to Jerusalem every year with His family after He reached the age of twelve.
Night after night, Jesus would sleep underneath the stars that He Himself created. He breathed our air and endured Nazareth’s summer heat. The ordinary life of a young man is how all that knew Him perceived Him, and He gave no one any reason to expect anything differently. This is why, later on after His ministry had exploded onto the scene, His former townspeople said: “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?” (Matthew 13:55 NKJV)
Notes
So what is the message for us today? The message is found in Jesus’s own words: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15 NKJV).
Paul also wrote, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus …” (Phil. 2:5 NKJV).
So here’s what we learn from Jesus’s silent years:
I. Don’t promote yourself—always promote the Lord!
Paul the Apostle writes, He “made Himself of no reputation” (Phil 2:7 NKJV). Though He could have used His outstanding giftedness to promote Himself to become famous, He went the other direction and “made Himself of no reputation.”
Notes
II. Have a good work ethic.
Jesus “labored with His hands” as a carpenter until the day His ministry was launched. He wasn’t lazy, nor did He expect handouts because of Who He was! He worked hard laboring with His hands, leaving us an example of the nobility of work to care for your own needs!
Notes
III. Submit to the authorities God places in your life, don’t resent them.
One the most amazing verses we’ve read is: “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them” (Luke 2:52). God the Son subjected Himself to His parents, honoring them, not resenting their authority.
Notes
IV. Be content with what you have
Jesus didn’t have much of this world’s goods, but lived a peaceful, quiet life, focused fully on growing mighty in His inner man, growing in wisdom, and in favor with God and man, which means He blessed those around Him with grace.
Notes