I thought we took a lot of pictures of our children in the 70s.  By comparison the digital archive of grandchildren dwarfs the 35 mm snapshots and colored slides (remember them?) from just a few years ago. 

The record of a child's life today is chronicled in detail.  If not the family's own collection of video, digital imagining, and scrapbook clippings, then by the mountain of official records and surveillance from doctors, schools, Uncle Sam, and marketers who want to know absolutely everything about you and your habits from day one.

Reams and reams of data are collected on kids today, and its only the beginning.

By contrast, the childhood of Jesus is set down in two Bible verses.

We don't have information about the toys with which Jesus may have played, the household chores he may have been assigned, or the local Nazareth activities for a boy.  We don't know of his routines or hobbies.  What we do have is a crisp summary of the ideal childhood, one of growth, strength, wisdom, and divine approval.

That says everything.

In body, mind, and spirit, Jesus was entirely wholesome.  Unlike photos which can now digitally put missing smiles on the faces of kids (that's right, you can now photo-shop onto your children an agreeable disposition), Jesus was at all times pleasing to God.  Unlike the comments of parents who in conversation embellish certain things and hide other things about their kids, the truth about Jesus could not be improved.  He had no faults to hide or virtues to exaggerate.

One wonders just how remarkable Jesus may have appeared to the neighbors.  Surely, in his humility, Jesus was never a braggart, but neither would he have been withdrawn.  His faultless character was matched with impeccable conduct.  But perhaps he was seen as unremarkable simply because he was just what a young boy should be.  Simply stated: he was a good kid.

Everyone in the district knows the troublemaker.  Everyone in the town knows the kid who lets everybody know how great he is.  But neither of these portrays our Lord.  He was exactly as all young people should be.

Every young person should grow strong in the ways God intends.  Every youngster should expand in wisdom as God expects and provides.  Otherwise, childhood is pointless.  If a boy or girl comes through their formative years without sound judgment, maturity, spiritual health, and a sturdy, active Christian faith, then their youth was abused no matter what else they may point to.

We don't usually think a kid growing up in placid plenty as abused.  But if all the adolescent years, with their multiplicity of activities and involvements, are summed up at age 20 by a chief ability in knowing how to shop, cohabitate, and party - such a childhood was absolutely abused.

What can be done?

Let young people lean on these verses from Luke's Gospel.  Jesus didn't live his minority years just treading water and waiting for the real "show" to begin.  He lived his young life without sin or shame, without deficiency or offence because he was living His life on behalf of every person who has ever gone through adolescence.  He was living what would be made our life by grace. 

He grew and became strong because that is what defines the genuine human life.  He advanced in wisdom under the favor of God because this is the advantage God designed for humanity and resolved to give us.  Jesus lived for us.  He was obedient for us.  He was upright on behalf of every kid today who hasn't been everything a child should be.  He was righteous so that we could be declared righteous for His sake.

Yes, we'd love to have a snapshot of Jesus there in Nazareth, perhaps listening to his mother's counsel or following Joseph's directions.  But we have an even better "snapshot" than any camera can capture.  We have the resume of the young Jesus, "The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him."

This summarizes also, I hope you know, the life of all God's children because all Christ is and all He has done has been applied to the lives of Christians, to us by faith, to our children by grace, and to our grandchildren by the favor of God.

God looks at the baptized, believing young person and declares, "There's a good kid!  There is my son, my daughter.  There is my righteous one.  Yes, indeed, one good kid!"

Pastor Reed
© 2009