When God sent His Son to earth, we did not receive a pampered prince nor a coddled king. Instead, we received a veracious victor and a majestic Messiah. God sent His Son as a vulnerable baby to a humble family. He also placed Him within an oppressed culture, to a world that despised Him. God as man surrendered for a time His heavenly role. He came for a grand purpose which resulted in a mighty outcome.
A Heavenly Role
Before coming to earth, Jesus had a role in heaven. Jesus was One with the Father and they enjoyed constant fellowship. Through Jesus, God created the world. The angels worshipped Him. To explain this truth, Paul writes in the letter to the Colossians;
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things consist.”
His Grand Purpose
He gave up His heavenly role for a grand purpose. The writer to the Hebrews states what it is.
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Further in Colossians we read,
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fulness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of this cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight-“
The Outcome:
Prophecied
As a result, humanity learned first hand about God. Isaiah 53 describes the man who would come,
“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness, and when we see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him.”
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;“
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.”
Participated
The apostle John writes of these things as a participant.
“that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handed, concerning the Word of life, the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.”
The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in all things, as we are in order to sympathize with our weaknesses. He is our Great High Priest who daily intercedes for us.
Proclaimed
As Isaiah foretold, and the first century experienced, God through Jesus came to earth. John and the other apostles tell their story. They share their experiences so we can have fellowship and be One with the Father and His Son. He writes so that our joy may be full.
“Blessing and honour and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever!”
Is it any wonder that at Christmas time we sing
“Joy to the World?!”
God as man surrendered for a time His heavenly role. He came for a grand purpose which resulted in a mighty outcome.
