Prodigies
July 6, 2011 (Wednesday)
Yesterday’s blog was about the youngest serviceman in World War II. Today, I want to let you know about someone else I read about on the Wikipedia site. Here’s what it says: “Christian Friedrich Heinecken (February 6, 1721 – June 27, 1725), also known as “the Infant of Lübeck”, was a legendary German child prodigy. He is reputed to have spoken within hours of his birth.He studied the whole bible when he was just one year old. By three, he was well-versed in mathematics, history and geography, and could speak Latin and French in addition to his native tongue. He predicted his death and it happened on the exact day.”
A paragraph like the above sort of leaves one without anything else to say. “Smart kid” doesn’t quite hack it. “Unbelievable” puts it mildly.
There is probably a reference to him in Ripley’s “Believe It Or Not” feature.
A “child prodigy” has been defined as someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his/her level of maturity. In that case, Jesus of Nazareth, at 12 years of age, could be described as such. The family had been to Jerusalem, and after they were on their way back home to Nazareth, discovered that their son, Jesus, was not with them. Upon returning to Jerusalem, they found him in the Temple, conversing with the religious leaders. Here is the way the Bible describes subsequent conversation and events: “‘Why were you searching for me?’ Jesus asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:49ff NIV).
Coming from Heaven to become a baby, he chose to “empty Himself” (Phil 2:5ff) for our sakes, to fulfill prophecy and become our Savior. If He had chosen to do so, however, He could have been like Christian Friedrick Heinecken, the “wonder child.”