Brethren, have you ever wondered what it was like for Yahshua growing up as a child? After all, if Yahshua lived a perfect life, this means that He also lived a perfect childhood. When Yahshua was still a boy, what games did He play? Did He play with other kids? Did He ever injure Himself? What did He eat? What education did He have? How did He spend His time?

God has His reasons why the Bible talks so much about Christ’s adult life and not so much about His childhood. The childhood of Yahshua is summarized in Luke 2:40:

⁴⁰ And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. 

So, it’s kind of interesting to think about how Yahshua grew up. How did He become strong in spirit and filled with wisdom? What does it mean for God’s grace to be upon Him? 

These are all interesting questions if you ask me. Now, you might wonder, why do we need to know what was the childhood of Yahshua like? Before we proceed, let me just give you three reasons we need to study this topic so that you understand its importance:

1. Learning the childhood life of Yahshua teaches parents how to rear their children.
2. Learning the childhood life of Yahshua teaches young people how to develop, grow up, and mature.
3. Learning about the childhood life of Yahshua helps everyone to better understand His nature as both human and God.

For these reasons, brethren, I hope you will see the importance of the message today.

So, let’s begin with the birth of Yahshua. Yahweh, the Father, chose godly parents for Yahshua. We can say that both Joseph and Mary were the right people to raise the Messiah. Mary, followed God’s principles when it comes to food, exercise, and healthy living. She was even healthy enough to travel to Bethlehem even when she was in the full term of pregnancy. So, we can be confident that Yahshua was born as a healthy baby boy.

Did Jesus ever cry as a baby?

The answer is yes. Crying for babies is a form of exercise and a way to expand and improve the lungs. He also cried when He was hungry or uncomfortable. It’s a way of communication.

Now, every baby comes to a point where their cry takes a new tone. They cry out of frustration, disappointment, and anger. Babies and kids throw a tantrum when they don’t get what they want. All of us would be quick to say, “That’s normal for a child. Every child goes through that stage.” Yet, though it may be hard to believe, Yahshua didn’t have any of that!

Did the boy Jesus get sick?

Now, the next question is, “Did Yahshua have any childhood disease? Did He ever become sick when He was still a boy?” The Bible didn’t give us the exact answer, but I would say that Christ was healthy above measure. He followed the food laws of God. He most likely ate whole grain food, fresh raw milk, meat, and vegetables. If Yahshua would have lived today, He wouldn’t eat in Jollibee, McDonald’s, or any fast food. You wouldn’t see Him eating processed food or junk food.

Aside from diet, He made it a point to get enough rest and sleep to keep Himself healthy. He also had plenty of exercise from both work and play.

Did Jesus play games?

Now, did Yahshua ever play a game with others? If yes, what kind of games could He have played? Yes, he played games and He also played with other kids. However, the games He played didn’t involve loud noises, screaming, or shouting. He didn’t play games that require lying or pretending. He didn’t play cops and robbers or had to pretend to be like Zeus, Hercules, or any Greek gods or any heroes from Hebrew folklore and legends. He didn’t have a feeling of self-importance because He was humble even while He was a child.

If Yahshua ever played any game, it could be games that didn’t involve hurting others. It would be a game that would be constructive, a game that benefited Him physically and mentally. I would say he played games that involved jumping, running, climbing, racing, swimming, and even wrestling since we know how He wrestled with Jacob before His human existence.

Did Jesus injure himself?

Could Yahshua have injured Himself? I would say there’s little probability of that. For one, He has perfect obedience to God’s law. He had a good common sense of safety while working or playing.

What was the education of Jesus?

How about the education of Yahshua? The primary teachers of Yahshua were His godly parents. No doubt, He was taught the fear of God at a very young age. He was taught the way of God and how to pray. Aside from that, His parents could have hired private teachers or tutors who would further improve His knowledge and skills.

Yahshua could have known Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew. He learned music, geography, history, and science. Aside from that, He learned practical skills that helped Him to build the strongest and nicest homes or furniture. He has the skills to produce decorative, delicate, and masterful work of hands. 

Now, all this secular knowledge didn’t automatically come into Yahshua’s mind by some miraculous feat. He spent His time learning and mastering them. The knowledge that He had were accumulated throughout His years of spending time wisely.

Could Yahshua be so smart that He knew how to build rockets, start the Internet, and develop smartphones? I would say that He can but He chose not because that’s not His purpose at that time. With the limited time that He had, He focused on what matters most.

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What is the boy Jesus know about the Scripture?

How about His knowledge of the Scripture? He also has to learn those things but because of the grace of God and having the full measure of God’s spirit, His understanding was beyond anyone could ever have before, during, and after His lifetime.

Yahshua could be considered a child prodigy, a child with a great intellect beyond His age.

We know that Yahshua was called a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. However, this didn’t mean that He didn’t smile, laugh, sing, and dance. He appreciated good humor and music as much as we do. He even sang hymns with His disciples after the Passover.

Now, let’s go to a story that helps us to better understand how Yahshua lived as a boy. Let’s read Luke 2:41-50:

⁴¹ His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

It’s no accident that the Bible records this one important year of Yahshua, His twelfth year. The number 12 represents “organized beginnings.” It’s the number of good governance.

 ⁴³ When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

Have you ever wondered why it took a day’s journey before Joseph and Mary noticed that Yahshua was missing? This tells us that Yahshua’s parents have full confidence in Yahshua. Yahshua was mature for His age and He was a very responsible young man. Joseph and Mary automatically assumed that, like the years before, Yahshua would automatically come with them.

However, the twelfth year of Yahshua was different. This time, He would make Himself public and begin to do His real mission in life.

 ⁴⁵ So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. ⁴⁶ Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

The teachers recognized the great intellect of the boy Yahshua to the point that they let Him sit not on the side, not outside, but in the midst of them. We can see here as well the willingness of Yahshua to learn as He also listens and ask these teachers questions, questions that could have amazed the teachers or questions that He could learn even more.

 ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

These doctors and teachers of the Law were astonished and amazed. Never before had they heard anyone so young with so much knowledge and understanding. I could just imagine the expressions on their faces.

 ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed…

When they found Yahshua, the boy wasn’t crying because he was lost. He was not in the streets begging for food. Remember, three days have already passed. If it had been other 12-year-old boys, the story could have been different.

… and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Now, did Yahshua disrespect His parents for not letting them know about His whereabouts? No, He wasn’t being disrespectful. Joseph and Mary knew that their Child was the promised Messiah. He was born for something greater. However, the passage of time and the ordinary day’s Christ were with them dull them of that. They forgot about His true calling.

Yashua explained, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Yahshua has a greater Father in heaven. Respecting His heavenly Father doesn’t mean He disrespects His earthly parents. At this time, Yahshua was slowly revealing to His parents and others that He is going to be the Messiah who has a role to play.

As you can see, brethren, Yahshua is no doubt the greatest human being who ever lived on this planet, not just during His adult life, but also during His childhood years.

I hope this message has given us a glimpse of what it was like when Yahshua was growing up. It gives the young people and of course, us, adults, a wonderful example of how we should spend our time here on earth even at a very young age. It also helps parents to know how to nurture their children, raising them up like Yahshua. Finally, it helps us as well to better understand how Yahshua became the perfect sacrifice to save us from our sins.