June 12 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We live in a culture which places a lot of emphasis on youth. The sports, entertainment and music industries are dominated by young people. In Biblical times people viewed age quite differently. The elderly were respected because of their life experience, wisdom and understanding. It was considered more honourable for a young man to listen than to speak.

Doesn’t this make you wonder about Christ’s age at the start of His earthly ministry? Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. Was He qualified to teach and give direction to the people? The Jews didn’t consider a man mature enough to teach and instruct others if he was younger than forty. By human standards Jesus wasn’t old enough to teach.

Jesus is our Saviour! He receives a position of authority that towers high above all others. He starts His work at a relatively young age—when others would have questioned His maturity. God the Father wants us to know that His Son is qualified for the position as our Mediator and Saviour, not because of His age but because He is filled with the Holy Spirit. To have the ability to teach and instruct, you need to be equipped with the Spirit of God. It is the Holy Spirit who equips every disciple, apostle and minister of the Word. Is this not the reason why the apostle Paul says to Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth”? Timothy is equipped to preach and teach the gospel of the risen Christ because he is filled with the Spirit.

Christ’s youth underlines the power of His ministry. He speaks with authority. The multitudes are amazed and they say among themselves, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (Luke 4:36) Jesus is so different from the rabbis of Israel who are of age but are missing the Spirit and wisdom of God.

The Holy Spirit provides and equips every church member with the ability to speak God’s Word. Pray that all those who are called to act and lead on Christ’s behalf may be filled with the Spirit, no matter what age they are.