Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38
“The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.” – J.I. Packer
How amazing! Almighty God, the Promised One who would save all people from their sins, came to earth as a tiny, helpless baby. You would think our Heavenly Father would chose a stronger, bigger, wiser, and more mature being for such an important job. Why not send Moses again? Or better yet, why not send an angel?
God didn’t chose either of these options. He chose the best option…the perfect option. God chose to send His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was born as a human baby, weak and frail. He grew and matured through human childhood and the teenage years, learning, becoming mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually stronger. At age 30, Jesus began His earthly ministry, the work of sharing God’s plan, especially with people who would later watch Him die then later see Him walking, talking, very much alive. Finally, they watched as Jesus returned to heaven in the clouds, promising to come again.
Jesus had to be born a baby and grow into manhood in order to fully experience everything we experience. It was only by having a human man live a life of perfect, sinless obedience to God then die a sinner’s death could God give us His perfect gift of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life.
Jesus being born as a helpless baby wasn’t only the best plan. It was the only plan that could accomplish what God knew needed to be done.
Luke 1:34 & 38 Mary said, “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?… I am the Lord’s servant…May your word to me be fulfilled.’”
Mary didn’t fully understand God’s plan either, but she willingly trusted and obeyed God.
That is what we need to remember this Christmas. We may not fully understand why sending Jesus as a baby was the plan God chose, but we can and should trust that God knows what He is doing and faithfully obey Him
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galatians 4:4 & 5
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.