In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth….
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (John 1:1-3, 14, Revelation 22:16).
At Christmas time, we turn our attention to Jesus as the baby in the manger. With His birth, the world would never be the same, for that event meant the Son of God became the Son of Man – taking on Himself all the limitations of man without losing His divinity – something only God could do. In The Child Who Chose to be Born, a Bible study on this website, we looked at how God the Son readied Himself to become the Son of Man.
None of His limitations as a human were a surprise to Jesus. For our sakes, He willingly took those limitations upon Himself. The Son of God who was, is and will always be the Lord of Lords did something He did not have to do. Fully God and fully human, He expressed His love sacrificially.
Jesus referred to Himself most often as the Son of Man.
- In His humanity, the Creator of man became like His creation in order to redeem mankind.
- In His humanity, the Creator of time came just at the right moment for the prophecies about Him to be fulfilled.
- In HIs humanity, the Shepherd who cares for His sheep needed a mother to care for Him through His early years.
- In His humanity, the Source of all wisdom and knowledge grew and learned.
- In His humanity, the Living Water got thirsty.
- In His humanity, the Bread of Life became hungry but resisted the temptation to satisfy that hunger with anything that would dishonor His Father.
- In His humanity, the Judge of all men felt sorrow for fallen man and was determined to take our just punishment upon Himself.
- In His humanity, He needed rest and sleep.
- In His humanity, He enjoyed companionship with His fellow man.
- In His humanity, He prayed to the Father.
- In His humanity, the One who gave the commandments demonstrated how to obey them.
- In His humanity, the King of Kings came to serve, not to be served.
- In His humanity, He accomplished something the rest of humanity could not do – He lived a perfect life.
- In His humanity, the great Lion of Judah became the Lamb of God sacrificing Himself for those He came to save.
He rose from death victorious – forever to be the Son of Man who would intercede for those He understood so well. There was never a time when Jesus was not God, but with His birth, now He would also always be the Son of Man.
Jesus’ followers should never doubt that God understands what they are going through. He has been there, done that in regards to human life, yet without sin. Although He performed many miracles, they were for others – not Himself.
I am part of His bride and am well aware that as my Bridegroom, Jesus paid the price that made it possible to be with Him forever.
How grateful I am for Christmas and every blessing His coming represents. My Lord and Savior is also my Brother and Friend.
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying; “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:21-23).
© Stephanie B. Blake
December 2013
One Focus Ministries 