Turning 33, I am reflecting deeply on the life of Jesus, who also lived to this age. It’s remarkable how little we know about most of His life. Between the celebrated events of His birth and the start of His public ministry at “about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23), the Gospels provide scant details. Given the profound influence of His life, one might expect a wealth of information about His childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. But instead, we are left with only a few glimpses into these years. Perhaps, though, this is exactly how God intended it.
Matthew’s Gospel gives us some early snapshots: the visit of the magi (Matthew 2:1–12), the family’s flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–18), and their eventual return after Herod’s death (Matthew 2:19–23). But then, we leap straight to Jesus as an adult, ready to begin His ministry. Luke offers a bit more, recounting the angelic announcement to the shepherds (Luke 2:8–21), the family’s visit to the temple (Luke 2:22–38), and a brief story from Jesus’ childhood when He amazed the teachers in the temple at age twelve (Luke 2:41–51). Yet, he sums up Jesus’ first three decades in just two verses: “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40), and “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
As I think about these brief statements, I can’t help but wonder what those hidden years were like for Jesus. Did He outshine His peers in knowledge? How did His sinless nature affect His relationships with His siblings? Was He exceptionally skilled as a carpenter? Did His neighbors notice something different about Him?
However, perhaps focusing on these questions misses the point. The fact that Jesus spent most of His life in relative obscurity, growing and maturing like any other person, highlights the dignity of ordinary human life. God could have sent a fully grown Christ, bypassing the stages of infancy, childhood, and adolescence. But He chose instead to have His Son experience the full range of human development and grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people. This speaks volumes about God’s value in our growth and development.
Jesus didn’t skip the process of maturing, and neither do we. He grew up in a small town, learned a trade, and lived a life marked by ordinary human experiences—scraped knees, colds, and perhaps even broken bones. He grew physically and in wisdom and knowledge, learning from the Scriptures, from His parents, and the world around Him. Though He was the Son of God, He still had to learn obedience, both to His earthly parents and His heavenly Father, through everyday life experiences and the suffering He endured.
The Gospels tell us that Jesus was “made perfect” through His experiences (Hebrews 5:7–9), not in the sense that He was ever imperfect, but in that He matured and was prepared for His mission through the life He lived. He grew in favor with God and with people, embodying both the first and second greatest commandments: to love God and to love others.
As I reflect on my life at 33, I’m reminded that true growth involves our relationships with God and with others. Jesus, who knows the struggles of growth, stands ready to help us through our own process of maturation. His life shows us that the every day, often unseen moments of growth are deeply significant. So, I strive to embrace the journey, knowing that every step, every challenge, and every victory has a purpose in God’s plan.
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