The Shock of Taking on Humanity

THE SHOCK OF TAKING ON HUMANITY

It’s easy for us to have kind of a sanitized view of the birth of Christ, with a focus on cute baby Jesus. We probably don’t think about what the Son of God gave up when He took upon Himself a human body to live in this world. We have no idea what it was like for the Son of God to leave the glory and majesty of heaven and take upon Himself human flesh and live in this fallen world. I don’t believe it was a shock for the Son of God since He knows all things, but can you image what a shock it would have been for us if we had left the glory and majesty of heaven to come live in this fallen world?

Can you imagine what it was like for the Son of God to go from being Creator of all things to beginning life as a helpless baby and being totally dependent upon His earthly parents? Can you imagine what it was like for the Son of God to go from knowing all things as God, to taking on humanity and now needing to grow and learn just like we do? Can you imagine what it was like for the Son of God to go from having no needs from all of eternity, to experiencing many needs because of His human body, like needing food and rest? Can you imagine what it was like for the Son of God to leave a sinless environment where He enjoyed perfect fellowship with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit to come live in a fallen world where He was mocked, abused, beaten and killed? Can you imagine what it was like for the Son of God to be sinless from all of eternity and to continue in sinless perfection after taking on a human body, and yet the reward for His sinless life was to have all the sins of the world placed on Him? He was willing to endure all of this so that He could represent us and pay the penalty for our sins as the Father’s righteous wrath was poured out on Him as He hung on the cross.

We can never fully understand all that Christ was willing to endure for us, but there is no greater demonstration of love. May we respond to His love for us by loving Him in return and devoting ourselves to living for Him and His glory.