Imagine.
It’s nighttime and you look at the clock. The anticipated time of day has finally arrived and you stand up with confidence and authority – “Okay, it’s time to get you ready for bed, little one.” Before you can even finish that sentence, the tantrum begins.
The screams.
The defiance.
You’ve been caring for your toddler all day, and he’s hitting you in opposition to brushing his teeth and settling into bed.
After an exhausting day cleaning, feeding, and teaching, the long-awaited time to finally get some time to yourself has been slightly delayed; again.
I mean, didn’t you just discipline your child for the same behavior the night before? Doesn’t he remember the consequences to his actions? Was the Bible story you shared earlier in the day not enough to convict his broken heart to repentance and obedience?
Okay, you probably don’t have to imagine this scenario because it’s been your reality for the last 5 months. You love your toddler. And even though you keep replaying the clichéd phrase in your head “this season won’t last forever,” you find yourself wishing that your child would just stop with the antics, make a profession of faith, and go to bed.
But did you know this was never the case for one particular little boy?
At three years old, he obeyed sweetly, completely, and right away without delay. He shared his toys, he was polite to everyone around him, and he even memorized Scripture!
This little boy loved God with all his heart.
He never disobeyed.
He never dishonored his father or mother. He never hurt anyone. He never terrorized the other children at church. As a matter of fact, he never had a sinful thought ever appear into his mind.
Just think. About two thousand years ago, this particular little boy was living an absolute perfect life that we could never live – all for the sins of man. For the sins of his own family. Boy, do we ever take for granted the realization that a small toddler HAD to live perfectly in order to make for a perfect sacrifice when he grew up.
Just as every child is tempted to sin, Jesus was tempted just the same and still never gave in to any temporary pleasure.
What a relief!
In order for us to know God and have the hope of salvation, we have to believe with our hearts that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice that no one else could’ve been.
As a child, no sin was found in Jesus; even when he suffered or faced unjust opposition from his peers. 1 Peter 2:22 -23 says, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
Had Jesus made one little mistake as a toddler, his sacrifice for sins wouldn’t have been good enough to thwart God’s judgment. Even if Jesus told a tiny lie to get what he wanted in a small moment, or responded in defiance over his mother’s instruction, his death wouldn’t have been accepted for our propitiation.
Could you ever imagine placing your hope in your own toddler to live perfectly for even a day? Thankfully, you don’t have to. It’s been done once and for all.
We’re not privy to what Jesus’ daily life was like as a little boy.
We know that as even a newborn, Jesus brought comfort and peace to Simeon’s heart when Simeon prayed to see salvation before he died. (Luke 2:25-35.)
We know that Jesus grew strong, wise, and with God’s favor in Luke 2:40, and that he only increased in these qualities in verse 52.
Luke 2:41-51 tells us of his time at the temple in Jerusalem during Passover. He was listening and asking questions from the teachings, and the people were “amazed at his understanding,” (verse 47).
At the end of this passage in Luke 2, Jesus returned to Nazareth with his parents “and was submissive to them.” No caveats.
Can you envision being the mother of a child who never sinned? The mother whose very eternal life rested in the hands of a boy who would one day pay a debt she could never pay but instead be shown grace and mercy on her life while he actively advocated for her at the right hand of God?
The next time you find yourself physically guiding your angry toddler to obedience at bedtime, take a moment to thank Jesus for the perfect life he lived when he was a little boy. Thank him for never giving into temptation and for always submitting to his earthly parents. He did that for you and for me.
