Pastor's Corner
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THE BIRTH OF JESUS

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke record significant details of the birth of Jesus. These details are wonderfully celebrated every year, for millennia!

THE HIDDEN YEARS

However, the Gospels are silent as to how Jesus spent His years when He grew from childhood to manhood. Unfortunately, these years have been the subject of spurious speculation. (Some have suggested that Jesus traveled overseas to learn from the mystics of India, Tibet etc. Others have suggested that He lived as a hermit among the Essenes).

AN IMPORTANT INSIGHT

Isaiah’s prophecy, if taken seriously, would give us invaluable insight as to the silent years of Jesus.

“And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword;
In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me,
And made Me a polished shaft;
In His quiver He has hidden Me.” Isaiah 49:2

1. God’s purpose to have Jesus “hidden”
Twice, the word “hidden” was mentioned!

a) Emphasis that it was God’s plan to hide Jesus from public view

b) God had His Own plans for Jesus in the hidden years

2. God’s plan of training Jesus Himself
What was God’s idea of having Jesus hidden from public view?

a) God as personally training Jesus

b) This was not atypical

i) The prophets of God were similarly trained (Cf. Elijah, Jeremiah etc)

ii) They were all kept from public view till they were ready to be revealed

c) Preparation and Training

i) God instructed Jesus with reference to the use of His tongue

ii) God carefully prepared Jesus as a bowman would carefully prepare his arrows

iii) The successful public ministry of Jesus vindicated God’s perfect plan