NOTES for Luk 2:52
We know almost nothing about the childhood and youth of Jesus. This is not surprising: the evangelists focused their attention on Jesus' messianic ministry, on that for which He came into the world. But He came here as every human being does. The difference was only one: His nature was not touched by original sin. It did not share in it in any measure. From the very beginning it was completely free of it. But the process of the formation of this human nature of Jesus was the same as it should have been according to God's plan for human nature. And according to this plan, the physical and psychic formation of a person must be accompanied by his spiritual formation.
When the matter concerns nature, whether physical nature or psychic nature, we easily understand that the formation and development of a person is nothing other than the unfolding of the possibilities placed in his nature by God, which, when unfolded, make a person what he is. But a person must unfold his possibilities himself, although without God's help this is impossible. With spiritual formation the matter is somewhat different. Spirit is not nature; it does not develop, become more complex, or grow as natural structures do. Spirit has no structure; it manifests itself as will, and its growth is the strengthening of its will.
And accordingly, the expansion of the circle of action available to the will. The inclusion of ever new objects within the circle of this action. And, of course, the expansion and deepening of interaction with other spirits. With other wills. With other persons, because personhood is self-aware will. A person's spiritual formation therefore presupposes the expansion and deepening of his awareness of himself. Of his will. Of his person. And of that on which it rests: the breath of life in a person from God.
Thus self-awareness leads a person, if of course he remains consistent and faithful to his true self, to communion with God. To a meeting with God, who abides in that depth of the human person which in the language of the Bible is called the heart. All this fully applies to Jesus as well. He too is human. Moreover, He is Man with a capital letter. To each person God's presence in the heart is given in his own measure, and to Him alone it is given fully and absolutely. As Messiah and God-man. It is not surprising that He too grew, like every human being. In order to grow into His measure: that of the Messiah and God-man.