Personal Study , Jesus Christ
3 min read
Ask
Did Jesus always know he was the Savior? Do we know at what age he realized it?
Answer
To understand when Jesus Christ became aware of His role as Savior, we need to consider His growth and development. The Scriptures give us some clues about His early years, indicating that He experienced a growth process similar to that of any human being.
Luke 2:40 states:
“And the child grew, and became strong, and was filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.”
This verse suggests that Jesus, although divine, went through a natural process of maturation in wisdom and understanding.
Furthermore, in Luke 2:52 we read:
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
These passages show that Jesus did not possess all knowledge from His birth, but rather that His understanding and grace increased progressively. This idea is fundamental when discussing His knowledge of His divine mission.
One of the most important moments in Jesus' childhood happens at the age of twelve, when he is found in the temple conversing with the teachers of the law.
In response to His parents' concern, He answers in Luke 2:49:
“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
This response shows that, at that age, He already had a level of awareness about His special relationship with God and about His divine purpose.
This experience in the temple marks a key moment in His life: a transition from childhood to a deeper understanding of His mission.
Although it is not specified that at that time He fully understood the magnitude of His work, the fact that He was discussing spiritual matters with such seriousness suggests that His awareness of His identity and purpose was already growing.
When we try to delve deeper into exactly when Jesus fully knew he was the Savior, we enter the realm of theological speculation. Scripture doesn't offer complete details, and much of our understanding comes from interpretation and reasoning based on the available texts.
One perspective, based on Latter-day Saint beliefs, is that Jesus, like all children, was born under a veil of forgetfulness. This veil allows human beings to grow and learn in their mortal state without full awareness of their premortal existence.
In this context, it is reasonable to think that Jesus, despite His divine nature, also experienced this veil at birth. As He grew, His understanding of His mission would have been gradually revealed to Him through divine communication and personal revelation.
Doctrine and Covenants 93:11-13 teaches that Jesus:
“He did not receive the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace until he received the fullness.”
This indicates that His understanding and awareness of His divine mission were not instantaneous, but developed over time. This gradual process of increasing wisdom and grace aligns with the idea that He learned and grew in knowledge of His purpose as Savior.
Another key aspect is the direct communication that Jesus maintained with God the Father throughout His life. In John 5:19, Jesus declares:
“The Son can do nothing by himself, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son also does in like manner.”
This close relationship indicates that Jesus received constant guidance and revelation about His mission.
It is also important to consider the role of His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph. They would have played an essential role in teaching Him and helping Him understand His divine identity. The combination of earthly instruction and divine revelation surely shaped His understanding of His role as the Savior.
resorce Ask Gramps
You may also be interested in
- Family Home Evening: A Simple Way to Strengthen Your Family Every Monday
- President Holland: Jesus was all alone so that you don't have to be.
- How a new prophet is chosen in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints