Monday after the First Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 8, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 2:39-40 (NKJV)
2:39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Devotion
“And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”
Muslim apologists have used this verse to try to prove that the Lord Jesus is not God, saying the verse doesn’t make sense logically. If God is infinite and immutable, how can He grow up? This objection shows how false religions and unbelievers do not properly consider the incarnation.
The Lord Jesus Christ is both true God and true man by His incarnation. If Jesus was not true man, then He would not need to grow in wisdom and strength. If Jesus was not fully man, then He would not be the perfect mediator between God and man. If Jesus is not fully God, then he could not perfectly fulfill the Law; and if He was not fully man, then He would not be able to offer His perfect life for our sins.
We marvel over this mystery of the incarnation, especially during the season of Epiphany. The Lord Jesus grew up and was like us in every way, except without sin. Therefore, we can rejoice that He has reconciled God and man by being the God-Man that takes away our sins.
Collect: O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon Thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
