In last night’s sermon, we looked at the question ‘What does growth look like?’ and the short answer to that might be ‘Jesus‘! As always, Jesus is our example in all matters of faith, so if we want to learn how to grow spiritually, we need to look at His life and ministry. Jesus could have chosen to come to earth as a man, simply to preach and then die for our sins, but instead, He came as a baby, living in relative obscurity for thirty years before beginning His ministry. What was the point of all those years of insignificance and hidden living?
Jesus is our model in faith. He came as the ‘second Adam’ to show us how life should be lived as well as to die for us to bring us salvation. ‘In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.’ (Hebrews 2:10-11) Heb 2:18 goes on to say ‘Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.’ Jesus came to show us what a life of obedient submission to God looks like and He showed us that insignificance and unimportance in the world’s eyes do not have to define us. We all have dignity and purpose in this life because we are made in the image of God and just as Jesus willingly learned obedience from suffering (Hebrews 5:8), so too can we.
We know little about the childhood of Jesus (see Luke 2:40, Luke 2:52), but Jesus obviously grew naturally and in grace and wisdom and favour with people. He understands our humanity and therefore can help us in our weaknesses (Heb 4:15-16). He learned patience through suffering and therefore encourages us to see that spiritual growth cannot be rushed but will come naturally as we develop our relationship with our heavenly Father, just as He did.