Jesus Is Wise

It was an autumn day. The leaves on the ground were crunchy and golden. On my journey home I saw a little girl trundling along, evidently still mastering the art of walking. The next moment she was face down in a big pile of leaves, classic slap-stick comedy. Instinctively I looked at her grandma and her grandma looked at me. Was a terrible tantrum about to ensue? Thankfully not. After a short moment of realisation, the toddler had a beam across her face and let out the most adorable laugh.

Over 2000 years ago a teenage mother in a dirty stable gave birth to a precious baby boy. Like any other infant, Jesus developed and experienced the same natural maturing processes. In Luke, we are told that he grew. It’s fascinating to think that he would have, amongst other things, learnt to walk. Toddler Jesus would have probably fallen over too (think dusty roads, rather than leafy suburbia).

Luke 2:40:

“40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”

He was fully human, yet fully God. This special child was ‘filled with wisdom’, he innately knew to flee from evil and sin. Jesus exhibited extraordinary understanding because he was influenced by the Spirit. Everything he said and did, was wisely said and wisely done, above his years. The other children of Nazareth would have been tempted and fallen short. Yet, for Jesus, nothing but the grace of God was upon him.

It is important to clarify that wisdom is different to knowledge. Wisdom develops through experience, and the Bible also informs us the source of this virtue is God. God gives us wisdom to strengthen us, just as Jesus ‘grew and became strong’. Wisdom is obedience and obedience leads to righteousness. For us, as Christians, there is a danger in having knowledge without wisdom. Therefore, we must look to the example of Jesus and regularly ask God for wisdom.

Luke also tells us that the grace of God was upon Jesus. Here there was more than guidance, there was actually a manifested outflowing of the divine moral beauty of the Christ child. The same grace is gifted to us. We are like the other Nazarene children who faltered and disobeyed. We all have struggles and make bad choices. We cannot compare to Jesus who is perfectly holy. Yet in our learning as Christians, we can choose to become more like him.

Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. Henri Nouwen said ‘Waiting is a period of learning. The longer we wait, the more we hear about him for whom we are waiting.’

So, this advent, turn to the wise, loving example of Jesus.

Accept the gift of grace that has been freely given to you.

Pray to be filled with wisdom.

Seek the saviour, even when you trip up and fall into the leaves.