Christmas Advent Devotional Day 13: Humbling Unto Humanity

 



 

John 1:14

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (NKJV)

 

Yesterday we read in John 1, that Jesus is the Word of God.  The Word was an active agent in creation.  Today, this verse “fleshes out” the truth that Jesus, the Word, went through a process to become flesh.  Imagine if you will for a moment what life much have been like for Jesus in heaven.  He was worshiped without His authority being questioned.  He enjoyed uninterrupted communion with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.  He never knew sickness, exhaustion, hunger, or pain. His existence was perfect.

Imagine what His home looked like.  All light, brilliance and opulence. A place where the streets are made of gold.  The throne that God, the Ancient of Days sits upon.  The 24 elders, gathered around worshipping, the cherubim declaring, “Holy, holy, holy!” The host of angels circling around. Take in the whole scene!

Now imagine being born to a teenage mother, in a stable, with a father who is not really your father…Imagine running your early years to avoid being assassinated.  Imagine brothers and sisters who likely do not get you and are jealous of your perfection.  Feel the confusion of the teen years when He just did not fit in any context. Imagine the betrayals of both Judas and Peter. The bickering of your closest followers of who among them is the greatest.  See for a moment the grizzly bludgeoning of His body at crucifixion. The contrast of where He came from to where He dwelled on Earth is jarring!  Why would He exchange one for the other?  Willingly?

Philippians 2:5-8

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (NKJV)

 

Jesus left the glories and status He enjoyed in heaven. Jesus humbled Himself and went through the drudgery of life on earth, that we might behold His glory. He did so, so that we might escape eternity in hell and trade it for an eternity in heaven with Him. His pain was surely our gain.  His demotion was our promotion!

Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice.  Not only on the cross, but the sacrifice that was the totality of your days on Earth.  Thank you for being made flesh on my behalf. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.



 

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