Acquiring Wisdom

Acquiring Wisdom

While in Jerusalem with His parents for the Passover, as a young boy, Jesus shows an affinity for the temple. Scripture informs that His parents left for their home after the celebration and Jesus was not with them. After returning to Jerusalem and several days of searching they found Jesus in the midst of temple teachers. His parents asked why He stayed and did not leave with them.

In Luke 2:49 we find His response: And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” Jesus, at 12 years old, was informing his earthly parents that he belonged near his heavenly Father. Even as a pre-teenager Jesus knew his mission and constantly sought to increase in wisdom.

The “preacher’s preacher”, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, once preached; “Jesus is humble, and His servants must not be proud; but Jesus was never mean or cowardly, nor must His servants be. There was no braver man than Christ. He could stoop to save a soul, but He would stoop to nothing by which His character might be compromised or truth and righteousness insulted. To preach the Gospel boldly is to deliver it as such a message ought to be delivered. Blush to preach of a dying Saviour? Apologize for talking about the Son of God condescending to be made man that He might redeem us from all iniquity? Never!” Spurgeon highlights the wisdom of Jesus in everything He did.

James Gray’s hymn, “Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?”, outlines divine wisdom as depicted in the first verse and refrain;

There is wisdom that gold cannot buy,

Nor may silver be weighed for its price;

Nor will onyx and ruby, or crystal and pearl,

Precious jewels or coral suffice.

Refrain:

Where shall wisdom be found? And the place of understanding, who can know?

Behold! the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

And to depart from evil is understanding.

Gray points us in the direction of our Lord for the only true wisdom.

Let us pray: Holy Jesus, guide us in your wisdom and point us to your truth so that we may be earthly examples to others. Amen.