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
Many families read Twas the Night Before Christmas to their children on Christmas Eve. Some read Luke chapter 2 depicting what was going on before the first Christmas.
I think our Scripture passage for today tells us what was really going on before Christmas in the heavens above us. Way back in Genesis 3:15 God knew the world was in need of a Savior and planned to come down to earth.
The Old Testament prophets prophesied Jesus’ birth. We also see theophanies or Christophanies in the Old Testament which are appearances of Christ on earth prior to Jesus’ birth.
When we read our Scripture passage for today, it tells us what really happened that first Christmas. We are told in John 3:16 that God loved the world so much, He sent His only begotten Son so that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We must keep in mind; however, we serve a triune God. This means God is one God in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus was God come to earth in human form. He was fully God. He had all the power and knowledge of God. He was also, however, fully man. He had feelings. It was upsetting when people despised and rejected Him. He had righteous anger when people turned his Father’s house into a den of thieves in Matthew 21:12. He suffered physical pain when they placed the crown of thorns on his head (Matthew 27:29). He felt it when they spat on Him and kept hitting Him on the head as we are told in Matthew 27:30.
John 19:1 says Pilate had Jesus flogged. This is where a leather strap which has pieces of metal or stone embedded on the end is used to beat someone. It rips flesh and often exposes internal organs. Many who were flogged never survived to make it to the cross to be crucified. You can read all about this in the Case for Christ by John Strobel.
God is all-knowing. He knows what our future holds, and He certainly knew what the future held for Jesus when He was born. God had made the decision, however, to come to earth in human form. Jesus was God but never considered using His equality with God the Father as something for his own advantage. Instead, He had come to save us from sin and death, and he suffered ridicule, agony and pain to accomplish His purpose.
God came down from heaven. He humbled Himself and took on the form of a servant or a slave. He took on the likeness of man and was able to feel all that man feels. He suffered temptation in Matthew 4:1-11 just as we all do, yet He did not sin. He suffered anger, yet He did not sin. He suffered rejection and ridicule, but He still went to the cross for us while we were sinners (Romans 5:8).
He didn’t want to die on that cross. In Luke 22:42 He prayed to God, “Father, if You are willing to take this cup away from Me-nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” He was obedient to the point of death-even death on the cross.
The night before the first Christmas God prepared to come down to earth in human form to become Immanuel, which means God is with us.
Take a moment to put the myths aside and focus on what really happened the night before Christmas. The night God prepared to come to earth in the form of a precious baby boy to be crucified and save us all from our sins. Make your own attitude that of Jesus. Humble yourself, be obedient to God whatever it takes.
Have a very Merry Christmas!