On this Second Sunday after Christmas, the Gospel from Luke 2:40-52 is about the visits of the youthful Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple. In this passage, we can learn several things about Jesus and the Holy Family. Today let us focus on the first and last verses of the selection. Referring to the time after the infant's first presentation at the Temple, Luke 2:40 (ESV) says, "And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him." (ESV) Then after the twelve-year-old Jesus is reunited with His earthly parents, Luke 2:52 (ESV) says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."
These two verses state important truth about the Incarnation. Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ is unique. He is the divine Word, the eternal Son of the God the Father, made flesh and dwelling among us. As the Nicene Creed affirms, He is "true God from true God." At the same time, we also believe that "He was made man." Except for sin, He took on real human nature. These two natures in one person are the great mystery indicated in our verses from Luke. Jesus the Christ is holy and different. He is God the Son, but He also a real man. He has a human body and a human mind. He grows and develops physically, He increases in wisdom and divine favor or grace is upon Him.
This mystery of the Incarnation is at the heart of our Christian faith and hope. God loves us and wants to save us from our fallen human condition. God the eternal Word comes to earth, takes our human nature as Jesus of Bethlehem and Nazareth. He lives among us. He models human perfection and teaches in ways we can understand. This Jesus dies for our sins and rises to give us eternal life! This is the good news at Christmas and throughout the year!
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