Wisdom, Stature, Favor with God and Man

The Lord Jesus Christ is our example in every area of life, including how He grew as a child. As man, He set aside the full exercise of divine attributes, choosing to be subject to human limitations. Consequently, He grew. Luke 2:52 records how Jesus grew: “in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Jesus, as a child, developed intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.

That He grew in wisdom means that Jesus increased in His ability to properly apply truth. He learned the Word of God, understood it, and then learned how to apply it in life. This model applies to academics too. That He grew in stature says that He developed physically—strength, coordination, skills, stamina, courage, and overall character.

Growing in favor with God shows that God can be pleased, and Jesus learned how to do that. We please God through obedience and love. Jesus, as a child, increased in obeying the first commandment: “Love the Lord thy God.” Growing in favor with man implies that certain behavior pleases people; and Jesus, as a boy, grew in this area. Respect, thankfulness, service, cooperation, care—people find these qualities pleasing. Essentially, this last quality fulfills the second commandment: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Parents have the responsibility to train their children to be like Christ. When our children grow skillfully in these four areas, they become well-rounded young people and honor the Lord Jesus Christ.