The favor of God (or the grace of God) was upon the boy Jesus.
Evangelicals tend to think of grace in terms of forgiveness. We are sinners and we are forgiven and given eternal life (even though we don't deserve it) because of God's grace. Jesus' death on the cross purchased God's grace for us.
This concept of the grace of God is true, and it is beautiful. It gives us hope. We deserve the wrath of God not his favor and the good news that Jesus died so that we can be forgiven is indeed amazing.
Yet God's grace can not be limited to just the one aspect of forgiving sinners. God's grace is far greater than that. Jesus had no need whatsoever for forgiveness, and yet the grace of God was upon him. The Father was pleased with Jesus, he favored him, as we can see in his pronouncement, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
When we look at Psalm 90 we can get a good picture of the favor of God.
Psalm 90:13-17
13 Return, O Lord! How long?Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!
Moses the man of God wrote this psalm to entreat the Lord's favor. It was written at a time when the Israelites were afflicted by God. Maybe in the trying days prior to the Exodus or in the long years in the dessert Moses called out to God.
We can see what the Favor of God is by seeing what Moses asked for. There are three aspects to what Moses wanted for his people: To have joy in God, to see God's powerful work, and to have their own labor be established by God.
We can see each of these aspects significantly in the life of the Lord Jesus.
1. Joy in God
Luke 10:21
21 In that same hour he [Jesus] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
2. See God's powerful work
Romans 1:4
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
3. His labor was established
John 19:30
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Jesus finished work on the cross was for us. The work of his hands which was established was him saving all of us who have trusted in him through the centuries and into the future. He rejoiced at God's will to save us, and God's power was displayed in the act which saved us.
The favor of God was upon Jesus. He experienced that favor in his life death and resurrection.
He brought the good news that the favor of God was also upon us who believe. He came to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor had come (Luke 4:19). And it has come for us who believe because of what he has done.
We should have the same hope and experience because the favor of God is upon us: We will rejoice in him, we will see his power, and our work will be established.
Psalm 22:27-31
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord,and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.30 Posterity shall serve him;it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,that he has done it.
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