"For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given, and his name
shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:7
In describing the
coming Messiah, Isaiah says something amazing.
He not only came from God, He is God. God did not just sent us someone to
help. He came Himself.
Imagine it this way.
Suppose one day you discover that your sewer has backed up at your house and
flowed into your basement. Cleaning it up is more than you can do for yourself.
So you call me to help.
I say "Friend,
I love you, and will do anything for you. Tell you what--I'll send my wife and
kids over to help."
That sounds helpful.
But how much would I love you if I were not willing to come personally?
God didn't send an
angel or another divine being to be our Messiah. He took on human form and
plunged into the mess we call earthly life,
experiencing the fatigue and frustration of our ordinary existence. He felt firsthand what it meant to live in a
fallen family with sibling rivalry and grouchy parents, to experience the
teasing and taunting of children on the playground, to endure puberty with its
emotions and temptations, and to work
long hours in a carpenter's shop for little pay. When He began His ministry, he had to deal
with disciples who didn't want to learn, who bickered and lorded it over each
other. At times, he became exasperated
by their inability to grasp even the simplest things He was trying to teach
them. He endured the pressure of needy crowds of people competing for his
attention. He knew what it was like to have to pay taxes when he had no
money. He endured the misunderstanding
and jealousy of the religious establishment.
His words were misrepresented and twisted by his enemies. He received death threats, and many times had
to quietly leave town to preserve his life.
In the end, He suffered the greatest indignities. He was betrayed by one
of his best friends, caged like an animal, beaten almost to death, forced to carry his own instrument of
execution for a mile through a jeering crowd,
cut by a crown of thorns, and beaten in the face beyond all
recognitions. Finally, He was nailed to a cross until He died an agonizing
death.
He was God. He did
not have to put up with any of this. But he did it because He loved us.
The Mighty God laid
aside His might, so He could experience our helplessness. The Everlasting
Father became a child, so He could know
what it felt like to be us.
God's greatest act
of humility was not the cross, but the manger.
We will never know what it meant for God to humble himself so far as to
come and live among us. Until we enter heaven we never will understand. Those in heaven do not return, because they
do not want to. They live in complete
bliss. Yet God, the Almighty, laid heaven aside to come to earth and suffer on
our behalf. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
"Dear God,
thank You that you personally came to save us.
Help us to recognize what a great favor you have given us, and rejoice
in your ultimate act of love. In Jesus
Name, and for His sake, Amen."
