39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:39-40 KJV)
The Return to Nazareth
This passage gives a brief account of Jesus’ early years. After completing the rites of purification and presenting Jesus at the temple, Joseph and Mary returned to Galilee, to their hometown of Nazareth (Luke 2:39). Luke doesn’t mention what happened in between, but Matthew tells us that after leaving Jerusalem, they returned to Bethlehem, where the wise men visited them. From there, they fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath.
After Herod’s death, they were directed to return to Nazareth, a town associated with obscurity and low status. This location distanced Jesus from Jerusalem, signifying that His mission would not align with the existing Jewish religious and political order. In this, as in many other ways, Jesus humbled Himself and took on a lowly reputation (Matthew 2:1-23).
During His childhood, Jesus grew and developed like other children, but with clear signs of His divine nature (Luke 2:40). He increased in physical stature and in understanding, reflecting how the Church—His mystical body—also matures and grows toward spiritual completeness (Ephesians 4:13,16). Unlike other children who are naturally weak in mind and will, He was strong in spirit. The Holy Spirit gave His human soul exceptional clarity and strength, and His reasoning was far beyond His age.
While other children often speak and act with immaturity, Jesus was filled with wisdom, not through formal education, but by the work of the Holy Spirit. Everything He said and did showed maturity and insight beyond His years. Unlike others born with a sinful nature, Jesus showed no evidence of corruption. Instead, the grace of God was clearly upon Him—He was deeply loved by God, cherished, and watched over with special care.