The Almighty and Creator of everything decided to come down to earth as one of us. It could have happened very differently, He could have wanted to inspire shock and awe. That isn’t how He chose to come. God reached down in grace, not anger to give us the greatest gift ever given. A second chance. He first appeared as the smallest and most helpless among us, a tiny package, wrapped in human flesh, needing care for His survival. Why would He choose this?
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Why A Baby?
I’m sure there are many reasons, but I know within my heart of hearts, I know one reason He came as a baby. He didn’t come as a king or ruler but as a baby the most innocent and helpless of all creatures. He got down in the dirt with us, to lift us from the worst and bring us into the presence of a Holy, perfect God. There was a strategy behind this, He wanted us to understand that he went through everything a person could go through. God in His unfathomable goodness wants us to know that He empathizes with us. He knows how it feels.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Hebrews 5:8-9
The Manger Wasn’t the End
Just like every human, Jesus didn’t remain a baby, he grew up. The Christmas story was just the start, it should never stop at the manger. He was called to face every kind of sin and temptation and remain pure. Why was that important? He couldn’t be the person sacrificed for our sins if he had his own sins for which to pay. Jesus lived perfectly so that He could be the complete sacrifice for our sins. No money in the world can ever pay for it, it’s free, a completely free gift. Why?
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8
Reunion
There’s no human way to understand God’s grace for us, it is supernatural, It’s too complete, and we don’t have the capacity for it this side of heaven. The closest example that comes to mind is how I miss my adult kids. They are married, have their own families, and live in two different parts of the country and away from me. My heart longs for them and I can’t wait until we can see each other. God, as our Creator is like our parent in that respect. His longing for us is so much greater than we can understand. It’s even more than I have for my kids.
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “[a]Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:18
The Greatest Gift.
God doesn’t send people to hell, God provided us a way to avoid hell because He loves us and desires to be with us. Sin, which we can’t avoid keeps us from our Holy God and from heaven. God gave us the greatest gift ever given. It’s complete forgiveness, redemption, and an unmatched tender empathy and love from a mighty and holy God. While we focus on giving and receiving this Christmas, let us reflect on and receive the greatest gift ever given, forgiveness, redemption, and closeness with Him.
16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
