"When they had performed everything according to the Law of The Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." Luke 2: 39-40
Returning to Nazareth brought Mary and Joseph full circle back to their home. The Scripture from this point forward makes more of Jesus than it does of His earthly parents. They each had an essential part to play in the Christmas Story but Jesus played the lead role. He still does.
"The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom."
For twelve years the Scripture is silent about the childhood of The Child, except for this simple statement about the development of the body and character of Jesus. Contemporary parents should be interested in the growth of both in their children's lives. Feeding children with proper food without giving them a healthy diet of the Word of God always stunts their growth where it counts most, in their character.
"And the grace of God was upon Him."
The grace of God revealed the hand-prints of The Father upon The Child. More to the point, the grace of God was in the spiritual DNA of Jesus He was not just The Child born in a manger. He was The Savior sent to save.
By the time Jesus was twelve years of age, there is no biblical evidence that the people of Nazareth perceived Him to be anything other than a boy born out of wedlock to a working-class couple with a checkered past. If the shepherds' story about the birth of The Child made it out of Bethlehem, it was either old news to the people of Nazareth, or it had been discounted altogether. After all, they could only see Him as the son of a carpenter, not The Creator.
Mary provides the best glimpse into the life she shared with Jesus in her home. The Bible records she and Jesus were in attendance at a wedding feast when the host ran out of wine. Mary pulled the servants aside, and said to them, "Whatever He tells you to do, do it." Miracles still happen when people do what He tells them to do.
Mary witnessed a life-time of the outpouring of God's grace upon the life of The Child. Wise parents still pray for the unmerited favor of God to be upon their children. They will never grow in strength and wisdom without it.
God's saving grace was upon The Savior. From the time of His birth, throughout His childhood, during His ministry, upon the cross, by the resurrection, this grace was revealed. It can still be seen in His continuous intercession for His followers. What God poured out upon Him, Jesus prays for you to receive.
Jesus prayed for The Father's will to be done in His life. Intimate times of prayer with His Father maintained His attitude of submission and kept Him under the authority of His Father. Prayer released God's grace upon Him to make a difference in others, not just to make a name for Himself. Pray to receive His grace, not to get your own way.
NOTE TO SELF: The Savior was never in need of salvation, because He is God. Still, Jesus was the recipient of God's grace to carry out His mission. So are you. In your case, you cannot be saved without saving grace. Stiff-necked people with stiff knees always stiff arm the grace of God. Believing they deserve it more than they need it, they never receive it. Don't be one of them. Receiving God's grace begins by understanding you don't deserve it, but you need it. God's grace is essential to your salvation, and the development of your character. Pray for it.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!