Growing Up Like Jesus

In May 14, 2013, Our Daily Bread Devotional entitled “Becoming,” Julie Ackerman Link shares the following testimony,

I grew up in a small town. No famous people. No busy streets. Not much to do. Yet I’ve always been thankful for my quiet, uncomplicated upbringing.

One evening when my husband and I were attending a business dinner, a new acquaintance asked me where I was from. When I told her, she said, “Aren’t you embarrassed to admit it?” Unsure whether or not she was joking, I simply said, “No.”

Although my town was sometimes belittled for its lack of sophistication, it was not lacking in things that matter. My family was part of a church community in which parents brought up children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

Jesus also grew up in a small town: Nazareth. A man named Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Jesus proved that the answer is yes. Even though He grew up in an insignificant place, He was the most significant person in all of history.

Experience taught me and Scripture confirms that what matters is not where you grow up, but how you grow up.

The last sentence of Link’s testimony resonated with me. I would have to agree with Link when she asserts, “what matters is not where you grow up, but how you grow up.” Many people have proven Link’s assertion to be true. One of those persons is the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though Jesus grew up in a despised place like Nazareth (John 1:46), He grew up in a way that young people in the 21st century should emulate and pattern their lives. Warren Wiersbe said that “Jesus grew in a balanced way without neglecting any part of His life.” In Luke 2:52, Jesus’ balanced growth and development is a perfect paradigm (model) that young people should desire to imitate. Thus, the relevant question is, what fourfold model does Jesus offer that young people should desire to incorporate into their lives for balanced growth and development?

First, Jesus grew and developed in His mental maturity. In Luke 2:52, Luke writes, “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom….” The word “wisdom” (sophia) means seeing and knowing the truth. It is seeing and knowing what to do concerning life and death, God and man, time and eternity, good and evil, and the deep things of God and the universe. Jesus had a mature mind in this kind of wisdom. Moreover, His mental development contributed to godly choices.

Our young people need to grow and develop in this kind of godly wisdom. Why? Many of our young people are making ungodly decisions by rebelling against parental authority, having sex before marriage, using drugs and alcohol, neglecting their education and academic responsibilities, engaging in same-sex relationships, choosing vulgar and demeaning music that degrades women, and promotes a selfish mentality that neglects an outward-looking perspective of life. Godly wisdom can help our young people have a different perspective of life—which is essential for significant paradigm shifts in one’s life. In my book Leading With Consistency: Four Steps to Leadership Consistency (2018), I argue that perspective shapes our priorities, and our priorities shape our practice. To this end, growing and developing in godly wisdom can provide a mental shift for many young people, leading to positive and Christ-like behavior.    

Second, Jesus grew and developed in His physical maturity. In Luke 2:52, Luke writes that Jesus not only increased in “wisdom” but also kept developing in “stature.” Even though Jesus came into the world as God in the flesh (John 1:14), He had to grow like any other child. We may not have the 18 years of His development after year 12, but we know He grew into manhood. Many historians believe that Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). If this is true, then as Jesus grew physically, He engaged in physical labor.

Some children cannot grow and develop physically because of physical abnormalities. However, some children have no abnormalities that limit their physical growth. Nevertheless, many children are not growing physically because they refuse to engage in productive physical labor that promotes physical growth and development. Parents should teach their children the importance of physical labor contributing to physical growth and development.

Third, Jesus grew and developed in His spiritual maturity. In Luke 2:52, Luke shares that Jesus not only grew in “wisdom and stature,” but Jesus grew and increased in “favor with God….” Jesus had favor with God because He lived an obedient life until He gave His life as a sacrificial offering for our sins (Phil. 2:7-8). Thus, Jesus understood His divine purpose (Mark 10:45).

God desires our young people to know and understand their divine purpose and never wander aimlessly through life. How does one discover their purpose? Discovering one’s purpose should start with one’s pursuit of God. The creator and sustainer of life is the best source for discovering one’s purpose. In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren asserts, “If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must start with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose.” He also adds, “You must begin with God, your Creator. You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and for God—and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and destiny. Every other path leads to death.”   

Fourth, Jesus grew and developed in His social maturity. In Luke 2:52, Luke shares that Jesus not only grew and developed mentally, physically, and spiritually, but He also grew and developed socially by having “favor with men.” I love the order of Jesus’ relational development. Before He tried having a relationship with people, He focused on His relationship with God. Thus, Jesus did not live His life to please people, but He lived His life to please God. His daily interaction with God (Mark 1:35) prepared Him for His daily interaction with others.

This truth is essential for young people to grow and develop into adults who seek to please God instead of becoming people-pleasers. People-pleasing is an addictive behavior that can start early in life and become very difficult to overcome in adulthood. Thus, parents can start early by teaching their children to model Jesus’ example of seeking to please His heavenly Father (John 6:38; Gal. 1:10) versus trying to please people (Sofo Archon wrote an excellent article on people-pleasing entitled, “People-Pleasing: A Trauma Response and How to Stop It” – https://sofoarchon.com/people-pleasing/).

Furthermore, Jesus had a good reputation with others because He had a good reputation with God. Young people must focus on having a good reputation with God and others. The writer in Proverbs 22:1 says that having a good reputation is better than “riches” or “silver and gold.” Young people need to have and maintain a good reputation by being persons of love, peace, compassion, and empathy. 

We should thank God for providing a perfect example in the Lord Jesus Christ for how young people should grow and develop. Jesus is the greatest model for young people to emulate as they seek to grow and develop across mental, physical, spiritual, and social domains. As Link states: It’s not the place you grow up that matters most. In contrast, it is whose example you choose to follow. Thus, following Jesus’ example is the best way to grow up.