HUMILIATION

Certainly, we realize Jesus wasn’t born this time of year. Unless we read closely the whole counsel of God, we might not get it. Nevertheless, since it is incumbent upon every child of God to celebrate the incarnation of God becoming a Man, we should observe it and celebrate His birth with great rejoicing and great thanksgiving, because it is full of salvation and gospel-worthiness. Our verse today reminds us of Christ’s incarnation. Jesus was born, not of pomp and ceremony, but in a lowly manger to poor, outcast parents. Although Jesus is the very Son of God, He grew up in humility, and in almost unnoticed insignificance— having only one real recorded episode of events not surrounding His birth, being the Passover at age 12 (Luke 2). So when Jesus entered Jerusalem at the Passover when He was 33-1/2 years old in order to travail in the most important event for all of time in all the universe, instead of entering with fanfare, or with an angelic host, or with thick clouds and darkness, or with thunders and lightning, Jesus simply fulfilled Scripture and humbly entered the lion’s den of dismay and desolation as One who was lowly and riding on a donkey.

Now, because of Christ’s humiliations, born as a babe, crucified as a sinner, though He was very God and though He was righteous Man, we may Rejoice greatly! Christ was born to foreshadow our being born-again, and Christ being born in us. Therefore, we may Shout! and we may Behold [our] King… for He is just and [has] salvation! That’s what Christmas is all about. The Son of God humbling Himself to save sinners like you and me is the real reason for the season. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Oh, precious Christ, born as a babe,
With date unspecifi’d:
For You’re eternal God and King,
You came too live and die!