50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:50-52 KJV)
Jesus Returned with His Parents to Nazareth
Finally, the boy Jesus was found in the temple, and his parents returned with him to Nazareth. This glimpse of his glory was brief. He didn’t ask his parents to settle in Jerusalem or to leave him there, even though it was the best place for growth and recognition. Instead, he willingly returned to his quiet life in Nazareth, where he was, in a way, hidden for many years. He surely came to Jerusalem three times a year for worship, though it’s not said whether he ever again sat among the teachers.
We are told that he was obedient to his parents. Though once he stepped away to do his heavenly Father’s work, he didn’t make that his regular practice for many years. He followed their directions, likely working with Joseph as a carpenter. He gave children an example of obedience to parents. Being born of a woman, he was under the fifth commandment, teaching the faithful how to honor their parents. Even though his parents were poor and humble, and Joseph was only his legal father, even though Jesus was strong in spirit, full of wisdom, and the Son of God, he was obedient to them. How can disobedient children justify themselves, when Christ himself submitted to his parents?
His mother, though she didn’t fully understand his words, kept them in her heart, waiting for a time when they would become clear and useful. We may ignore obscure words from men, but not from God. What’s unclear now may later become plain. Like a student memorizing grammar rules before understanding them, we must store up Christ’s words for future use (John 2:22).
He continued to grow in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). His divine nature couldn’t increase, but his human nature did. His body grew with age, and his mind developed in wisdom and all the traits of a human soul. Though the divine Word was united to his human soul from the beginning, its influence unfolded gradually as his human nature became more capable. He grew in favor with God and man, displaying graces that made him pleasing to both. Christ humbled himself by becoming a child, and the image of God became more visible in him as he matured. Young people, as they grow physically, should also grow in wisdom, and in doing so, gain favor with God and others.