Lessons from Young Jesus

Introduction:

1. Luke 2:51-52 testifies to the humanity of Jesus.
   1. Jesus grew up and matured like most of us did and as some of you are now doing.
   2. Jesus experienced growing pains:
      1. Physical
      2. Mental
      3. Spiritual – At 12, he was beginning to come into his own, realizing who he really was and what he was sent to do.
   3. Jesus was subject to His parents.

Body: Jesus Grew in Stature. Jesus experienced the same difficulties that we did or you do now:

1. He experienced the awkwardness of puberty.
2. He experienced peer pressure.
3. He struggled to fit in and find his place.
   1. The pressures within our public schools are immense
   2. Jesus likely never attended any formal school, but there are always societal pressures, even in the best of environments.
4. He liked girls. He found them attractive. He may have even lay awake some night thinking about some pretty Jewish girl.
5. He had chores to do and worked.
6. At some point, his dad died.
7. He was the first born child in the family.
   1. Firstborn Challenges:
      1. Parents more strict.
      2. Parental inexperience. 1st born = child rearing guinea pig
      3. More responsibility given or assumed
      4. Babysitting
      5. Teaching your younger siblings
      6. Include siblings in personal events, trips, w/ friends, etc
      7. Care of parents – John 20.
   2. Yet ALL firstborns believe their parents did a better job with them than on the latter siblings
8. Jesus experienced all the same temptations as we do:
   1. Hebrews 4:15 – yet without sin
   2. Matthew 4:1-10 – He was still Himself even when He was hungry; he didn’t need a Snickers to keep his head. Granted, this was adult Jesus, but we learn to be adults in our teen years.
   3. 1 John 2:15-17
      1. Lust of the flesh
      2. Lust of the eye
      3. Pride of life
   4. Jesus learned to keep his peace – Matt 27:11-14; 1 Pet 1:21-23