How much did Jesus know and when?

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Starrsmother

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I was meditating on the Luminous mysteries tonight as I said my rosary. A thought occurred to me and I’m reasonably sure that nobody has an answer that could be believed as the one true answer, but it seemed like an interesting topic to ponder. When Jesus was baptized by John and the Holy spirit announced that Jesus was God’s son and to listen to him, the meditation stated that this is when Jesus received his mission on earth. However in scripture, it points out that John was reluctant to baptize Jesus–even told Him that it should be the other way around–Jesus should baptize him. Jesus replied of course that John should infact go ahead and baptize him that all righteousness should be practiced. If He didn’t already know His mission, why would He say that—and for that matter why would John be reluctant to baptize his own cousin? The wedding in Cana is another example: when Jesus told Mary that His hour had not yet come–but then changed the water into wine, why did Mary automatically know to take the problem to her son?.

So, anyway, here’s my question: I wonder when Jesus recognized His full mission and purpose on earth and that He was the Son of God and Second Person of the Trinity? Did He know as a little boy growing up? Or was He given the revelation at His baptism as some imply? But, if he was given the revelation at His baptism, how did He know when He was left behind as a boy in Jerusalem and Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple, that He must be about His father’s work? And here’s one more–at Cana, how did Mary instinctively know that Jesus could fix the problem of running out of wine? If she truly did not understand the fullness of Jesus’ work on earth, why would she tell the servants to do whatever He told them to do? As I said, I doubt there’s a “for sure” answer in this life, but it is an interesting concept to roll around in our minds. Who all knew what–and when did they know it?
 
Luke 2:51-52

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

IMHO it seems that physical Jesus was ‘permitted’ by His divinity to have a normal albeit model childhood and adolescence and early manhood. I would also think it likely that even during His later teaching and passion and crucifixion there was an element of ‘need to know’ basis of enlightenment to His awareness of the full nature of His very special and unique nature.
 
Jesus knew everything from the moment of His Incarnation. There was never a point where He said, “Gee, I guess I’m supposed to do this.” If we deny Christ’s omnipotence, we deny the unity of His divine and human natures.

Note: This isn’t solemnly defined dogma, but it is mainstream theology, the teaching of St. Thomas, and has a solid basis in the Church’s doctrine.

It is true that Christ’s human nature has a finite intellect, and that in virtue of this His *experiential *knowledge grew, but in addition to acquired knowledge, He also has, and always had from the moment of His Incarnation:

– Imprinted or infused knowledge, “inasmuch as the Word of God imprinted upon the soul of Christ, which is personally united to Him, intelligible species of all things to which the possible intellect is in potentiality” (S.T. III, 9, 3)

– Beatific knowledge (direct knowledge of God which the Saints in heaven have), because “it was necessary that the beatific knowledge, which consists in the vision of God, should belong to Christ pre-eminently, since the cause ought always to be more efficacious than the effect.”
(Ibid, art. 2)
 
The Bible give only a few hints, but I think He knew already when He was in Temple when twelve years old. But how much is impossible to say for anyone. And we must keep in mind that He say that “not even the son” know, only The Father. OK. Christ is God, as He is also The Holy Spirit, but one God, so it is hard to say. It is a interesting thing to ponder, but not very productive for our spiritual life. We must focus on today, this moment, and look around to see where we can do Gods will. It is good to know much, but that can be a burden. There are things God don’t want us to know, yet. I would like to know, but God has seen that it is better I don’t know, so I stick with that. I am unable to understand The Scriptures and can hardly make sense when looking at the CCC. Why I don’t know, nor anyone. But as long as I understand The Bible and learn languages as I do, by just listening and then write as I would be talking is “my blessing”. (Did not help me in school though.) So maybe we all should be happy with what we know and blessed for what we don’t know.
 
I do not personally believe that there was a drip feed intuition in Jesus that he was God. He finally is quoted as saying I and the Father are one. However, I find it difficult to comprehend the Godhead being hidden from Jesus. He told Mary that he must be about His Father’s business when he was lost as a child. He certainly knew he had a mission and he knew he was going to die horribly before His capture. He raised the dead and forgave sins, thus declaring his Godhead to the Pharisees. I don’t believe the modern analysis that sees Jesus coming to some Epiphany sometime in His adult life. I hope to eventually be able to ask him some day.
 
Here’s another hint in scripture that gets passed by. When he was a boy and he was ‘found in the temple’ about his father’s business, notice scripture says that they were amazed that he was asking the questions, and apparently stumping the rabbis because he was *giving them the answers to his questions. *

Think about that. We get a glimpse of that when in the gospels Jesus asks them the question, Why does David call the Messiah Lord when he is his son? Matt 22:45 No one could give him an answer; therefore no one dared, from that day on, to ask him any questions.
 
Starrsmother said:
I was meditating on the Luminous mysteries tonight as I said my rosary. A thought occurred to me and I’m reasonably sure that nobody has an answer that could be believed as the one true answer, but it seemed like an interesting topic to ponder. When Jesus was baptized by John and the Holy spirit announced that Jesus was God’s son and to listen to him, the meditation stated that this is when Jesus received his mission on earth. However in scripture, it points out that John was reluctant to baptize Jesus–even told Him that it should be the other way around–Jesus should baptize him. Jesus replied of course that John should infact go ahead and baptize him that all righteousness should be practiced. If He didn’t already know His mission, why would He say that—and for that matter why would John be reluctant to baptize his own cousin?
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Jesus always knew who he was and what he would do, but as a physical person his mission began at his baptism. John recognized that Jesus was the promised Messiah, so he was reluctant to baptize him knowing that he didn’t need it, but that John needed Jesus’ baptism. Jesus replied as he did for two reasons: 1) he wanted to set an example for us his followers, and 2) by being baptized, he established baptism as a sacrament, the one that initiates us into the faith. This is why he told his Apostles to go and baptize all nations.
The wedding in Cana is another example: when Jesus told Mary that His hour had not yet come–but then changed the water into wine, why did Mary automatically know to take the problem to her son?.
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Of course, she knew who he was from the moment of the Annunciation, so naturally she’d take this need to him. Jesus had not yet done any miracles because they were signs that he was the Messiah and it would signal the beginning of his sufferings for us. Mary understood this, which is why she told the servants to “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus began his public ministry of healing at Mary’s request.
So, anyway, here’s my question: I wonder when Jesus recognized His full mission and purpose on earth and that He was the Son of God and Second Person of the Trinity? Did He know as a little boy growing up? Or was He given the revelation at His baptism as some imply? But, if he was given the revelation at His baptism, how did He know when He was left behind as a boy in Jerusalem and Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple, that He must be about His father’s work? And here’s one more–at Cana, how did Mary instinctively know that Jesus could fix the problem of running out of wine? If she truly did not understand the fullness of Jesus’ work on earth, why would she tell the servants to do whatever He told them to do? As I said, I doubt there’s a “for sure” answer in this life, but it is an interesting concept to roll around in our minds. Who all knew what–and when did they know it?
Click to expand...
Indeed, our greatest theologians have rolled it around in their minds and come up with an answer the Church supports–that he always knew who he was, but he had to wait until he was mature to start his ministry, and mission to redeem us. In the culture at the time a man didn’t speak about spiritual matters in public until he was at least 30 years old because he was considered mature enough and learned enough to speak. It’s one of the reasons the people were so astonished by his wisdom–because he was still a young man of 30 when he began his public ministry.
 
Petaro said:
I do not personally believe that there was a drip feed intuition in Jesus that he was God. He finally is quoted as saying I and the Father are one. However, I find it difficult to comprehend the Godhead being hidden from Jesus. He told Mary that he must be about His Father’s business when he was lost as a child. He certainly knew he had a mission and he knew he was going to die horribly before His capture. He raised the dead and forgave sins, thus declaring his Godhead to the Pharisees. I don’t believe the modern analysis that sees Jesus coming to some Epiphany sometime in His adult life. I hope to eventually be able to ask him some day.
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Me too, Pentaro!👍
 
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