Growing Up in Nazareth
As you enter this area there are several things, but this is that time in Jesus’ life we do not know much about also. We get a glimpse or two. And we have to reference the customs of the time as well to better understand the lifestyle.
Let’s look at a couple of passages to paint the picture.
Matthew 2:22-23
22 But when he heard that Archelaus[a] was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. 23 Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that He will be called a Nazarene.
Luke 2:39-50
39 When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him.
41 Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. 43 After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. 44 Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. 46 After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. 48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
49 “Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”[b] 50 But they did not understand what He said to them.
Here in these two passages you get an age range from 3 years to 12 years. Many wonder what happened during this time of his life. But we can see a few things.
One is that they were supernaturally guided to not go back to Bethlehem because of Archelaus reigning in Herod’s place. And that they needed to go to their hometown Nazareth.
Two is that one of the common courses of life for young boys of the time was that they went to Torah school. Where from about 5 years of age to 12 or so they memorized the first 5 books of the Torah. That and others would go on to memorize the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament. Along with many other books that we as Western Christians are unfamiliar.
But this was Jesus’ life and Joseph and Mary started having more children. Joseph continued to work.
An interesting fact is that when they came of age to then follow a rabbi, then like you would submit a resume to a company children would begin submitting their knowledge of the Word to the rabbi’s of choice and hope to be selected. If you were not selected then you were sent home to work, have babies, and pray that your children would be smarter and be chosen by a rabbi. To be a disciple was the highest level of job that one could attain in their culture. It was what opened up a lifetime of service and opportunity to the one true God!
But after this passage in Luke you find that Jesus grew and was also obedient to His earthly parents.
Luke 2:51-52
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
But something that you do not read is that Jesus was under a rabbi. Jesus was respectable. And served God. Here is where we do not know the exact timeline, but Joseph died somewhere between these two little verses. And Jesus learning the trade from his father, wound up not only helping his mother bury his obedient father, but also became the man of the house. Jesus began working, no time for apprenticing as a disciple of a rabbi, but rather Jesus worked to provide for the family while also submitting to the calling upon His life to be the Savior of the world.
This all builds to show and explain a key thing. We do not have a great High Priest (Jesus) that doesn’t relate or understand our suffering. For He experienced the pains of death and heartache just as we do, but He chose to not sin in it.
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Remember this Jesus grew up looking at all of us in love. And it is because of Him first loving us that we find this love!
As you enter this area there are several things, but this is that time in Jesus’ life we do not know much about also. We get a glimpse or two. And we have to reference the customs of the time as well to better understand the lifestyle.
Let’s look at a couple of passages to paint the picture.
Matthew 2:22-23
22 But when he heard that Archelaus[a] was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. 23 Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that He will be called a Nazarene.
Luke 2:39-50
39 When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him.
41 Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. 43 After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. 44 Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. 46 After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. 48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
49 “Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”[b] 50 But they did not understand what He said to them.
Here in these two passages you get an age range from 3 years to 12 years. Many wonder what happened during this time of his life. But we can see a few things.
One is that they were supernaturally guided to not go back to Bethlehem because of Archelaus reigning in Herod’s place. And that they needed to go to their hometown Nazareth.
Two is that one of the common courses of life for young boys of the time was that they went to Torah school. Where from about 5 years of age to 12 or so they memorized the first 5 books of the Torah. That and others would go on to memorize the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament. Along with many other books that we as Western Christians are unfamiliar.
But this was Jesus’ life and Joseph and Mary started having more children. Joseph continued to work.
An interesting fact is that when they came of age to then follow a rabbi, then like you would submit a resume to a company children would begin submitting their knowledge of the Word to the rabbi’s of choice and hope to be selected. If you were not selected then you were sent home to work, have babies, and pray that your children would be smarter and be chosen by a rabbi. To be a disciple was the highest level of job that one could attain in their culture. It was what opened up a lifetime of service and opportunity to the one true God!
But after this passage in Luke you find that Jesus grew and was also obedient to His earthly parents.
Luke 2:51-52
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
But something that you do not read is that Jesus was under a rabbi. Jesus was respectable. And served God. Here is where we do not know the exact timeline, but Joseph died somewhere between these two little verses. And Jesus learning the trade from his father, wound up not only helping his mother bury his obedient father, but also became the man of the house. Jesus began working, no time for apprenticing as a disciple of a rabbi, but rather Jesus worked to provide for the family while also submitting to the calling upon His life to be the Savior of the world.
This all builds to show and explain a key thing. We do not have a great High Priest (Jesus) that doesn’t relate or understand our suffering. For He experienced the pains of death and heartache just as we do, but He chose to not sin in it.
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Remember this Jesus grew up looking at all of us in love. And it is because of Him first loving us that we find this love!