There is something so other about Jesus Christ coming to us as a baby. It’s strange, it’s wonderful, it’s holy, it’s contradictory.
God became human while still being God.
Lately the weightiness of this has been on my mind. Jesus is God, and He limited His power and position on purpose to be here with us. We needed a Savior, and He loves us enough to come here and be that. But He doesn’t just show up, save the day, and leave. He becomes one of us so He can be sympathetic with us. He becomes one of us so that He can experience the hardship we do and save us from our sin by conquering it. As Paul put it in Romans 5:12-21, through a man sin, condemnation, and death came, and through a Man righteousness, life, and grace came. (Read the first part of that chapter, too. It gives even more explanation on God’s love for us through Jesus!)
Several uncomfortable implications of Jesus Christ coming down from Heaven to be a human have been deeply on my mind as well. Humans have limited mental and physical capacity dependent on their age and genetics, let alone the limitations even fully grown humans have in comparison to the way Jesus was in Heaven. Jesus became utterly helpless as He developed in utero. Jesus remained utterly helpless when He was born. Jesus had to cry until He learned how to talk. Jesus had to have someone change His diaper until He was potty trained. Jesus had to learn how to walk. Jesus had to learn how to use a spoon. Jesus had to learn hand-eye coordination. Jesus had to learn how to dress Himself. Jesus had to grow, mentally and physically.
Jesus Christ did all that even before dying on the cross and rising again because He loves us. Jesus limited His infinite deity to humanity for a while so He could be with us in more ways than just one.
Related:
Raising the Son of God
The God-Man
The Son of God, By Name!
Immanent Immanuel
When Jesus Left His Throne
A Little Easter in Your Christmas
Manger, Cross, and Resurrection