Was Jesus Once a Little Boy

This poem was just the result of my pondering about the holiday and the Christ child. It always seems that when I think about Christmas the first picture that pops into my head is the babe lying in a manger surrounded by farm animals. Or my mind may skip ahead to Easter and think about the crucifixion. But in order to get from the manger in Bethlehem to the Cross on Calvary, at some point there had to be a little boy. We don’t know much about this little boy until he was 12 and we find Him teaching in the temple to the priests and teachers. I have to believe that this boy was very much like most boys. We know that He grew and learned, line upon line and precept upon precept. That means at the beginning He was something less than what He was at the conclusion of His earthly mission on Calvary. The main difference between Him and me as a child is that as He learned a law, He was absolutely obedient. But what was He like as a child and what things filled His days until He was 30 and He began his earthly ministry. I almost feel like the writers of the gospels must have known some of this information. Was it originally in the scriptures but was removed?
Oh well, as I said this is just me pondering and this poem was the result.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
25 November 2021

Was Jesus Once a Little Boy?

Today I ponder as Christmas nears and all the things it brings.
I think of the child of Bethlehem and how all the world sings.

But today I find I think of Him as the babe born in a stall
Or of the man who would die for us and our failings one and all.

But to get to be the Savior of me and all mankind,
He had to be a little boy with treasures he could find.

Was Jesus once a little boy who ran and jumped and played?
Or was He somehow different from how you and I are made?

Was Jesus always perfect who never seemed to fall?
Or did He learn each growing day before he mastered all?

Did He work each day in Joseph's shop and learn his father's trade?
Or did he spend each waking hour learning how worlds are made?

I know He knew the scriptures for He in the temple taught.
But was it as hard for Him to learn the things that I have not?

And what of when He finally grew from boy into a man
Did He ever want to pause a while to do what other fellows can?

These questions sometimes fill my mind then I think about my Lord.
And the things that I'm most thankful for and the blessings I have stored.

We all come to earth as children and live through grief and joy.
We take the path that Jesus took when He was just a little boy.

Gale L. Wolfenbarger
25 November 2021