The fullness of the time had come. Jesus had known, since creation, this day would arrive. He looked back across the sea of glass like crystal and saw His Father who appeared as jasper and carnelian sitting on a throne encircled by a rainbow, resembling an emerald. Christ listened to the angels sing “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Then, in an instant, He stepped into the limitations of time, set aside the privileges of deity, and was made in the likeness of men. Leaving behind the throne room in heaven, He became a helpless embryo in the womb of a poor unmarried girl. Wow! That’s about all one can say when we see it from this prospective—from the highest, most powerful, and glorious place in the universe, He stepped down to the lowest level of the human race.
Psalms says the Lord must humble Himself just to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth (Psa 113:6). Jesus humbled Himself one-step lower. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil 2:7, 8). We tend to understand more about the meaning of His death than we do about His birth. Dying on the cross for our sins was the culmination of His incarnation, but it is not the only thing He accomplished while He was here.
It is beyond our comprehension that the omniscient, all-knowing, God learned something. Although He [Jesus] was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered (Heb 5:8). God had never obeyed anyone or anything because there was nothing higher or greater to which He could have obeyed. Jesus knew what obedience meant but not what it felt like. He became a man to learn obedience at a pragmatic level through experience. His obedience took Him all the way to death on the cross. Obedience requires a choice and sometimes we must choose things we have no desire to do. Jesus did not want to die on the cross, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet, He concluded His prayer, yet not as I will, but as You will (Mat 26:39). In other words, He would be obedient to the Father’s will even if than meant He must die on the cross.
Jesus experienced the scope of humanity from His birth, throughout His life, and finally how it felt to approach death and then to die. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). From a human perspective, Jesus would understand man’s needs that never occurred in heaven—hunger, thirst, fatigue, frustration, poverty, weakness, temptation, and any other trials humans will encounter. He endured all the pains of life so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16). Christmas can be one of the most joyous celebrations of the year for many. Yet, others, including Christians, will be lonely, afraid, hopeless, depressed, etc. Believers may feel alone because they only see Christ as the one who died for their sins. As the angel proclaimed to the shepherds, I bring you good news of great joy . . . today a Savior has been born for you (Lk 2:10). Not only did He die for you, He first lived and experienced everything you are suffering. He was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted (Heb 2:18).
You may identify with other adversity He underwent. Do you feel unattractive and unaccepted? There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look (Is 53:2 MSG). Do you feel rejected? He was looked down on and passed over . . . [people] thought he was scum (53:3 MSG). Are you financially poor? Jesus said, Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Matt 8:20 NIV). Do you feel like you are a nobody? In his home town they were cutting him down: “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son” (Matt 13:55 MSG). Jesus understands and is ready to come to your aid.
He stepped down to the lowest level of humanity in order to identify with everything you endure. But He did not remain down. He again filled himself with his privileges of deity and stepped back out of the limitations of time into the throne room He left. God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name (Phil 2:9). When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:13) . . . who also intercedes for us (Rom 8:34).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Your need is no greater than His power. Your sadness is no greater than His joy. Your depression is no lower than His presence. This week rejoice that He took a stepped down in His birth and life so He could aid our weaknesses.