From reading the Old Testament it was clear that God would have to come himself to save us, but have you ever wondered why God had to become a man? Surely there was an easier way for God to save us? Couldn't he have come as some kind of Superman impervious to all the inconveniencies of living in a fallen world, or as some kind of modified angel or heavenly being? Well we are touching on one of the great questions. There are a lot of ways to answer the question, which is why although a hard question it's a great one to ask.
Something that struck me only recently was that the Son of God chose to become man and even to be born a man so that we could get to know Him better. Why spend 33 years on this earth with all its heartaches and problems? Well God wanted us to know Him better. He could have given us a dazzling display of His glory but to be honest it would have been too much for us to bear. I remember a professor once saying that God had to write the whole of the Bible in baby talk, as that's the only way we would come close to getting any of it!!
So the Son of God became man and accommodated himself to us. It was the only way we could truly know him, by him becoming a man, fully human like us. Surely God could have got the job done in far less time, but He wasn't just interested in saving us, he wanted to us to get to know Him, to be in a relationship! So he came and lived and walked, ate and drank and truly dwelt among us.
Bible
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father John 14:9
Jesus didn't become man and leave his perfect home, just to save us, he wanted us to know him, and to know God the Father - Jesus wants to be in a real relationship with each one of us. To truly embrace Christmas is not just to go to Church or sing carols on Christmas Eve or even to identify yourself with the Christian religion. Christmas is about being in a real life realtionship with a real flesh and blood person! At Christmas, Jesus draws near to us and invites us once again to know him and be in relationship with him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus its staggering that you went to such great lengths to be in a relationship with us. You showed us what God is truly like and what it means to be truly human. Make us realise once again this Christmas that it's all about being in relationship with you, and if we are not, we pray that you would make that a reality for each one of us. Amen
Steve
for
Kruger
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