Why Thirty Years Old?

Have you ever wondered why Jesus waited until after He was thirty years old to begin His ministry?

Gotquestions.org has a partial answer which you can view here.

The reasoning behind why the experts in Judaism considered being thirty years old important, to view Jesus as an authentic rabbi, is actually based on Number 4:2-3 NASB which reads as follows: “Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, from thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old, everyone who can enter the service of ministry to do work in the tent of meeting.” Emphasis is mine.

In the New Testament we are told that Jesus is our “Great High Priest”. This correlates with how Jesus also states that He came, not to do away with the Law, but to actually fulfil it in Matthew 5:17 NASB: ”Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”:

1. 1. Hebrews 4:14-15 (NASB): “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.”
   2. Hebrews 6:19-20 (NASB): “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
   3. Hebrews 7:26-27 (NASB): “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself.”
   4. Hebrews 9:11-12 (NASB): “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption.’
   5. Sinlessness: Jesus lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), which means He never violated any aspect of the Mosaic Law. This includes the moral, ceremonial, and civil aspects of the Law. His obedience to God’s commands demonstrates His perfection.
   6. Messianic Prophecies: The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies about the coming Messiah who would fulfill the Law and bring salvation. Jesus, by beginning His ministry in line with the Old Testament pattern, showed His alignment with these prophecies and His role as the fulfillment of them.
   7. Sacrificial Fulfillment: The sacrificial system in the Old Testament pointed to the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Jesus, by His ministry and ultimately His death on the cross, fulfilled the sacrificial aspect of the Law. He became the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice that the Law foreshadowed.
   8. Teaching and Interpretation: Jesus also fulfilled the Law through His teachings and interpretations. He provided a deeper understanding of the Law’s spiritual meaning, emphasizing matters of the heart and righteousness (Matthew 5:17-20). In this way, He elevated the Law’s significance.
   9. New Covenant: Jesus’ ministry marked the inauguration of the New Covenant, as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34). In this New Covenant, the Law would be written on people’s hearts, and Jesus’ work as the Lamb of God would provide forgiveness of sins, fulfilling the Law’s purpose.
   10. Atonement for Sins: In the Old Testament, the High Priest had a crucial role in making atonement for the sins of the people through the offering of animal sacrifices. Jesus, as our High Priest, offered Himself as the perfect, spotless Lamb of God to atone for the sins of humanity once and for all (Hebrews 9:11-14). His sacrifice fulfilled and surpassed the need for continual animal sacrifices under the Mosaic Law.
   11. Access to God: The High Priest in the Old Testament had the unique privilege of entering the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle or Temple once a year on the Day of Atonement. This symbolized access to God’s presence. Jesus, through His sacrifice, opened the way for all believers to have direct access to God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-22). He became the mediator between God and humanity, reconciling us to God. You recall that when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was rent in two, from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51).
   12. Intercession: The High Priest interceded on behalf of the people, offering prayers and sacrifices for their sins. Jesus continues to serve as our High Priest, interceding for believers before God the Father (Hebrews 7:25). He advocates for us, presenting His finished work as the basis for our forgiveness and salvation.
   13. Perfection of Priesthood: The Old Testament priesthood was imperfect, as the priests were themselves sinners. However, Jesus, as our High Priest, is described as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, a priesthood that is superior and eternal (Hebrews 7:11-28). His priesthood is characterized by His perfection, righteousness, and unchanging nature.
   14. Fulfillment of Prophecy: The appointment of Jesus as our High Priest also fulfills the Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah and Priestly King, as seen in Psalm 110 and Zechariah 6:12-13.
   15. Jesus’ obedience to the Old Testament Law, including the timing of His ministry at age 30, underscores His role as the perfect fulfillment of the Law. He didn’t abolish the Law but rather completed it, showing that God’s superior ways and thoughts were manifested in Him, providing sufficiency and salvation for humanity through faith in Him.

 Worthy Is The Lamb!

Bruce Cooper is a disciple of Jesus, married to Peggy, with 5 grown up children, 7 grandchildren. He is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and resides in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. a.k.a. “Papa.” To read more of Bruce’s work visit Reasoned Cases For Christ.