Christmas always brings nativity scenes when we come face to face with the baby Jesus. Have you ever stopped to think about what it must have meant for Jesus to incarnate as an infant? Jesus had existed for eternity (Jn. 1:1), made all things and yet he condescended to become a man. For that reason I propose a different Christmas text than the usual account in Luke about the shepherds and the nativity. Let’s think about it from Christ’s perspective…
“Have this min
d among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ” (Philippians 2:5–11)
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There are at least five ways the Virgin Birth is a change in position and state:
- Change in dwelling place
- Change in his possessions
- Change in his glory
- Change in his position
- Change in his form
(1-4=temporary; 5=permanent)
Yes there is a Man sitting in heaven today and he is interceding on our behalf (Heb 7:25). I have heard it said that the only man made thing in heaven will be the scars on Christ’s body. As the ultimate act of love and humility, Christ temporarily gave up His glory in heaven, omniscience at times (Mk. 13:32), omnipresence, omnipotence (Jn. 5:19) for undeserving sinners like ourselves. That is what Christmas is really about.
I wish you and yours a very peaceful and pleasant celebration of God’s wonderful mercy! Thank you for reading my work and supporting this website in 2010!
About Cris Putnam
