For thirty-three years the Lord Jesus displayed to the gaze of men a life of incomparable grace and beauty. We read that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). As His path on earth began with birth, He was first the infant, and then the child and the youth and the man, so in each of these periods of life, he showed such mental and moral powers as were appropriate thereto. That he increased in favor with God did not mean that God was at any moment other than "well pleased" with Him, or that His wisdom was at any time deficient. Rather it shows that His consciousness as man developed in suitability to each stage of physical growth, even as the bud unfolds to the fullness of the flower, and each is perfect in its place. Yet in the mystery of His Person nothing of this detracted in any way from His constant possession of the fullness of deity.

To our Lord's humanity there was attached unique and transcendent dignity. In Him alone do we behold the perfection of manhood. Throughout the history of our race there have been those who by God's enablement have shown outstanding traits of nobility, of goodness and grace. We speak of the purity of Joseph, the meekness of Moses, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the devotion of Mary of Magdala, and the sacrificial love of Paul. But all such qualities are gathered up finally and completely in one glorious harmony in the Son of man.

To our Lord belonged every dignity, so that in Him, and in Him alone, we see in its completeness the divine ideal of manhood. No excellence of character could be added to Him. There were no virtues for Him to acquire, for all were His at all times. In the garden of His soul there were no exotics; every fragrant plant was native to its setting.

—Adapted from The Glories of Our Lord by H. C. Hewlett