International Gospel Hour

Jeff Archey: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Let’s talk about the growing Jesus today, from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.

J. Webb: It's time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I'm J. Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God's word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let's open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archey, of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the churches of Christ. Here's Jeff.

Jeff Archey: Thank you to J. Webb, and greetings to all of you. It's great having you with us today for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. In Hebrews 11 and verse six, the Bible says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Friends, may we seek God through our study today, to seek His word and to do His will in His way.

Our lesson text is from John chapter two, verses 23 through 25. The Bible says, "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did, but Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man." Yes, friends, Jesus knew what was in man. He knew all men.

As the only one that it could be said in Matthew 1:23, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which is translated, God with us." Thinking about God with us in human form through Jesus Christ. Friends, that's staggering when the mind simply considers and tries to embrace it. And yes, we can embrace it, we can believe it, we can hold to it. God Almighty came to this earth in the form of man, Jesus Christ, who knew what was in man.

Let's think about some other passages. Philippians 2:5-8: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Though He was a son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:8-9. Friends, when we see how Jesus came in the likeness of men, in appearance as a man, learning obedience by the things which He suffered, becoming a servant and obedient to the point of death, how beautiful it is to consider the growing Jesus. Let's look at that a little bit more in a moment, but first, a few words from our J. Webb.

J. Webb: Hey Facebook friends, please follow us at our page, International Gospel Hour. Keep up to date with our daily broadcasts and special announcements along the way. That's International Gospel Hour on Facebook, and feel free to share our material on your Facebook page.

Jeff Archey: Let's continue with two texts from the Gospel of Luke. Chapter two and verse 40: "And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him." And in Luke 2:52, same chapter, a few verses later: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

From these two texts, let's notice some characteristics about the growing Jesus. How He grew intellectually. Let's go back to Luke chapter two and look at verses 46 through 49. "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."

When they saw Him, they were amazed, and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." And He said to them, "Why do you seek Me? Do you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Jesus continued onward as He grew physically. After the devil's temptations, we find Jesus eventually returning to Nazareth and standing and reading scripture in Luke 4:16 and following.

Verse 22 of Luke 4 tells how they wondered at His gracious words, but later in verses 28 and 29, they became angry and were going to throw Him over a cliff. Later we see two accounts in Luke 20 that involve the chief priests, scribes, elders, and spies that tried to catch Jesus with His words or present a contradiction within His teaching, but they could not.

Questioning His authority from Luke 20, verses one through eight, and again in verses 20 through 26, the addressing of God and Caesar and one's priority should be unto God, expressed Jesus answering in the perfect way as He would. He was God in the flesh and knew the thoughts of men. But unto those within the world, there was that growth that appeared intellectually, and many may not have liked it, but they had no answer for Him.

Now let's notice too from our lesson text of Luke 2, verses 40 and 52, how Jesus grew physically. Again, Philippians 2:7, He was in the likeness of men. Would you consider Mark 6:3, that He was a carpenter? His background was in carpentry. Carpenters in the first century were compared to a stone mason. So there's a good indication that Jesus was indeed physically fit.

Think about Mark 15:15 and John 19:1 where it tells us how Jesus was scourged, such an intense beating, and then further abuse after and before His crucifixion and His suffering on the cross. We cannot imagine or embrace such abuse and consider the physical shape that He was in. What's interesting, friends, the law said if you were scourged, you were not to be crucified. But yet how Jesus endured upon that cross.

In Philippians 2:8: "Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." I am so thankful, friends, aren't you? Yes, Jesus grew physically, but with His life He dedicated what He came to earth to do. We also see that Jesus grew spiritually. For example, what Jesus did was in favor with God.

In Luke chapter three, verses 21 and 22, His baptism by John who at first refused, but Jesus submitted to God as in Matthew 3:15 when He answered John and said, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." How many times did we see Jesus in prayer? Luke chapter 5:16, chapter 6:12, and chapter 9:28.

Here is Jesus, God upon earth, or made in the likeness of man, but yet He spent time in prayer unto His Father. His plea before the Father that the cup of suffering would pass from Him. Luke 22:42: "If this is willing, if it's possible, Father, let this cup pass from me." Friends, how thankful we are to see the Son was about the Father's business. He was about the Father's business for me and for you. I'm grateful for the growing Jesus.

We note how Jesus grew socially, in favor with God and with man. His reason for coming to this earth? People. Friends, how we need the Savior. In Luke 19:10, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Can you imagine if Jesus would have never come to this world, how bad a shape this world would really be in?

His interaction with those that would become His apostles, Luke 5:1-11, and from John 13:1, how He loved them to the end. His relationship and His interaction with them, how He grew socially. He could respond to men. Knowing what was in man, man could see how He would respond and His compassion upon so many. For example, what about that sweet widow woman from Nain in Luke 7:11-17?

How about the compassion that He showed to that dear widow who lost her only son? Imagine the power of loss, not only a husband, but her own son. Yet compassion was there on behalf of the Christ. He grew socially, He knew to respond and how to do so. There's so much more here we could consider and how the scriptures teach how Jesus grew socially with the interaction with humanity by His actions, His response to people.

When we take a look at how Jesus grew, increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, dear friends, we need to be individuals that grow as well, the same as Jesus did. We need to grow intellectually, the knowledge of God's word. Of course we grow physically, our bodies change, we age, we mature. At least we hope we do.

We're able to mature better if we grow spiritually and of course socially, in favor with God and with man. 2 Peter 3:18 reminds us, "But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." May it always be. Friends, maybe this study today will prompt you to grow even more. You've tuned into this broadcast. We hope that it will help you, and we have an online study of the Bible available just for you. It's free, and here is our J. Webb with those details.

J. Webb: Maybe you'd like an online study of the Bible. The World Bible School has a free online Bible study available. Just go to worldbibleschool.org and register. That's worldbibleschool.org. And get this: a study helper is provided for your lessons. That's the free online study at worldbibleschool.org. Sign up today. Tell them the International Gospel Hour sent you.

Jeff Archey: Friends, we hope this broadcast today of "The Growing Jesus" has helped you in your life and your study that you may grow. Also, this is from a series that I bring forth from time to time called "A Sermon I Heard." A lot of times in my travels and even in my home congregations, I like to hear the other preachers and what they preach, and they're worthy to bring forth on this broadcast.

For the life of me, I cannot recall who preached this lesson of "The Sermon I Heard." That's where I need to grow and make better notes, and I'll do my best. But until next time when we study together, I want to thank you for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour. I'm Jeff Archey. And friends, keep listening.