Grew

We are currently revisiting the story of Jesus as written by Luke. Periodically, we will skip over a passage so that we can complete this gospel (“good news”) with the RESET series. Please check out Luke 2:21-40. Today, we are offered an important guide.


Luke 2
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.


Grew. At Eastside, it is our desire to be passionate Jesus-followers. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to explain what that process looks like. That is why I love the phrase “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” so much. It is a simple, yet clear guide for maturing as Jesus followers. We should always be learning ... accumulating knowledge and understand about God and Jesus. Even though some of our bodies have stopped growing in “stature”, we should never stop taking care of them ... get enough rest, eat healthy, exercise. We should continually seek to honor God in everything we say and do. We should express kindness and compassion and generosity to others. If all this sounds familiar, it’s probably because you have heard Jesus summarize it in one statement, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” (check out Mark 12:30)