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| “What about Yeshua’s Hidden Years?” | ||||
| Q | I’m interested in finding out what happened to Jesus between the ages of 12 and 30 when he started his ministry. The Bible makes no reference to these years. Is there any literature that speaks to this? Camilla* | |||
| A | Dear Camilla, not very much is written about our Lord’s ‘silent years,’ so let me give a word of warning. | |||
| Some have taken advantage of this to introduce ‘new ideas’ in other writings and books that claim to teach about the “hidden years of Jesus,” but all of these have proven to be false. Anything added to the scriptural account would be of no spiritual gain, is unwise to pursue, and dangerous to anyone’s spiritual well being (see Rev. 22:18,19). The Scriptures, which were written by eyewitnesses (see Luke 1:2 & 2 Peter 2:16), imply that it would be humanly impossible to write down everything Yeshua did. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written” (John 21:25). The Bible is given to us so that God can clearly reveal Himself to us, and states that everything we need to know for our redemption and life with God has been “written that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). Be careful of what may be a vain interest and do not “exceed what is written.” (1 Cor. 4:6). Keep seeking, and study what God has already revealed in His Word. There you will find Yeshua! Shalom in Messiah, Sam |
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| Editor’s note: Regarding the ‘silent years’ of the life of our Lord, here is what we do know. He grew up in a poor Jewish family in Nazareth, Israel, and was trained in his earthly father Joseph’s vocation as a carpenter. |
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| Yeshua had four brothers, and at least two sisters (see Matt. 13:55,56), and was literally the ‘perfect child,’ which probably frustrated or at least perplexed His other siblings (can you imagine?). He was always obedient, honored His father and mother, and as He grew up, He
“kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men”
(Luke 2:52). Apparently Joseph died before Yeshua began His ministry (at about thirty years of age-Luke 3:23). We can deduce this from the fact that there is no mention of Joseph being alive after the family Passover trip to Jerusalem, when Yeshua was twelve years old. Here Yeshua’s parents temporarily lost Him, only to find Him ‘in His Father’s house’ at the Temple three days later (Luke 2:41-49). So, being the oldest son, Yeshua likely bore the burden of supporting His family as a carpenter (Mark 6:3), working long hours in a sweaty, dusty, carpenter’s shop, laboring as a young businessman in the community. The point the Scriptures make is that Yeshua grew up as an ordinary person, and He struggled with ‘human things’ like the rest of us. Other than living a sinless life, He did no miracles during this time (see John 2:11), and experienced the pressures of everyday life in a fallen world. How encouraging it is that we have a Savior Who understands us: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15,16). Yeshua is fully God, and yet fully man, and indeed our very best Friend Who ‘sticks closer than a brother’ (Prov. 18:24). Y |
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