The Gospel records reveal little of the early life of Christ Jesus. Luke's few words include these (2:40): "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."
The child Jesus grew in health and spiritual stature because of the unfolding of his Christly sonship with the Father. Later his occupation as a carpenter afforded him the opportunity of performing ordinary tasks with honesty, efficiency, and skill. The grace of God was upon him throughout his preparation for the great mission of healing to which he was destined.
Christ Jesus was sent of his Father to awaken men from the dream of being born of the flesh. The Master never forgot that he was the Son of God, Spirit. Obedience to the Father's will was dear to his heart, for he knew that the success of his mission in bringing redemption to mankind depended upon his fidelity to the divine purpose. He had gained this essential lesson in his early experience. The writer of Hebrews said of him, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (5:8,9). His wilderness experience, with its victory over evil, resulting from his vigorous denunciations of the suggestions of finite, personal sense, proved his readiness to enter upon his holy work.
