Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8 HCSB
In this Scripture passage Paul speaks of Jesus coming to earth and being fully man and fully God. It is important that we understand this. Jesus was fully man. He could feel pain and experience temptation. He was fully God. He had all the power that came with being God.
There were people like King Herrod who didn’t understand. He thought this baby was born to take over his kingdom. This is why he tried to kill him (Matthew 2:16). Others like the shepherds and the wise men knew He was worthy of their worship.
The gifts of the wisemen signified that they even understood his coming fate. Essential oils are still used today. Frankincense and myrrh are used on wounds. They also have a pleasing aroma and were said to have been used for embalming dead bodies back in Jesus’ day. They also gave Him gold which was a gift fit for a king.
Jesus’ birth was planned from the beginning of time. God knew that if He gave us free will, we would choose to sin. It’s in our nature. He knew we would be in need of a Savior. Back in Genesis chapter 3, we see the first mention of this. In Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve have sinned and God pronounces generational curses on them and the serpent and all mankind. God tells the serpent or Satan, in verse 15, that he will put hostility between him and the woman, and between his seed and the woman’s seed. He tells the serpent that he will strike the heel of the woman’s offspring, but the woman’s offspring will strike his head. He’s telling the serpent that the woman’s offspring will be victorious over the offspring of the serpent. Jesus will come to destroy Satan and Jesus will win.
The baby that was born and laid in that manger, came to save you and me. He lived a life of humility and service so that he might show us how we are to live. He made it very clear in Luke 22:42 that He did not want to go through the pain and suffering of the crucifixion. He asked God to take this cup from Him, but He was willing to submit to God’s will. As our Scripture passage says, He was obedient even to death on a cross. Remember that He was fully God. He could have called ten thousand angels down to take Him from that cross, but He didn’t. He surrendered His life to save ours. Never forget that He was fully human. He felt the sting of spikes on the metal ball as he was being flogged and His skin was being ripped from His back. He felt those nails being driven into His hands and His feet. Even as He struggled to draw a breath, He asked God to forgive those who persecuted Him saying they know not what they do in Luke 23:34. Luke 23:46 says, “And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into your hands I commit My Spirit’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
But we know this was not the end. Jesus rose from the dead three days later. He walked among the people and ascended to heaven to be with God the Father. Each of us get to choose our own ending to our story. We can finish our temporary stay here on this planet and spend eternity with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Or we can choose to spend eternity in hell with the fiery serpent.
You can celebrate the birth of Jesus all year long, but this is not what saves us. What saves us is surrendering to Him, just as He surrendered to God the Father. What saves us is our obedience to God the Father just as Jesus was obedient to God the Father even to the point of death on the cross.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 says that God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. We were made for a happy ending. We were made to spend eternity with Him in heaven. But we get to choose our ending. Which will you choose?
Have a great day!