At Christmas we celebrate the miracle of the incarnation, that God became a human. I suspect we have lost (or perhaps never gained) the sense of wonderment we ought to have at this mighty deed of God. It is mind-boggling to contemplate that the One who, in the beginning, commanded countless billions of stars to exist was able to become a baby in a manger. Isn’t this the greatest of all the miracles? If God could become human, then obviously to calm a storm or raise the dead would be simple.
Not only is the incarnation an amazing exercise of divine power, but it speaks profoundly of God’s character that Jesus would choose to join us on our microscopically low level. We are taught by the writer to the Hebrews that Jesus “is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters” (Heb. 2:11). You may think that you don’t make such a bad brother or sister, but for the One who is accustomed to commanding armies of angels to do his bidding, to let us be his brothers and sisters is to come down more than a few notches.
Jesus became like us – “fully human in very way” (Heb. 2:17) – in order to break the power of death over us. As a result of his humanity, he also understands our temptations. “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18).
Praise God that “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14).