Read: Philippians 2:1-11
"Have this mind 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 emptied himself, by 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."
Philippians 2:5-8
Why a baby? Have you ever thought about that? Why did Jesus come in the form of a baby? Why assume a human nature that began in the womb of a woman? Why not enter into the scene with much more pomp and circumstance? A baby is so small, and powerless, and frail. One can’t do a lot as a baby. Babies pretty much just eat, sleep, and...well, you know. They can’t take care of anyone. In fact, babies (from the womb until well beyond birth) need constant care and attention. Why would Jesus–the Savior of the world–come in the form of a baby?
Paul writes in Philippians 2, that Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Emptied himself? Took the form of a servant? Wait, Jesus is God. He is Lord of Lord, and King of Kings. He is the all-powerful Creator of the world. Why–how–did He empty Himself? Was He no longer God when He became man?
Make no mistake, Jesus did not stop being God at His incarnation. Furthermore, He did not surrender any part of His divine status or ability in becoming man. In becoming man, however, He humbled Himself, and shrouded His glory behind the veil of human flesh. In His human nature, He became like man so that He may save mankind. In His human nature, He matched the nature of humanity so that He may be a substitute for humanity. And to truly become human, His human life had to start just as ours does–in the womb of our mothers. You see, to be our representative on the cross, He had to be human. Yet, to truly be a sufficient and worthy sacrifice, He had to be the perfect, spotless Lamb of God. In other words, to be the sacrifice we needed, Jesus had to be the God-man. He was fully God and fully man.
His “emptying” as Paul notes was an act of humility. He left His throne on high to assume a human body that was susceptible to the wear, tear, and hardships of the fall. In His humanity, He died so that we may live. So, yes, Jesus came as a baby so that He might be our adequate representative, but that baby now reigns in a glorified body of a man–back to the full glory He shared prior to His incarnation.
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Prayer: Jesus, you humbled yourself by taking on a human form just like mine. You did this so that you can die on my behalf. Thank you for the incarnation! Thank you for the cross! Thank you for dying in my stead!