Divine Humanity

“Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what - not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human.

 

It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.”[i]

 

When I read the above scriptural passage, my heart is flooded with gratitude as these questions come to mind. “Why would an infinite Heavenly Father send His only Son, Jesus, to Earth for finite humans?”[ii] Who would have imagined a King was being sent to save us from our sins?[iii]

 

1.  Because of His love for us:

 

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it, and why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him.”[iv]

This quote from a children’s book adequately summarizes the Almighty’s true feeling for His humanity:

 

“I'll love you forever.  I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.”[v]

 

2.  Because He freed us from our sins:

 

But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law.

 

Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa, Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.[vi]

 

“Just because you can't see the air doesn't keep you from breathing. And just because you can't see God doesn't keep you from believing.”[vii]

 

“The main trouble is there are too many people who don't know where they're going and they want to get there too fast!”[viii]

 

3.  Because He has made us a kingdom of priests:

 

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to Him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.[ix]

 

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong." [x]

 

Have you ever contemplated the greatness of God? The familiar hymn below (abridged) does a majestic job in communicating what a small part we play in the Almighty’s plans.  “Do we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, or does God fulfill His purpose in our lives?”[xi]

 

Verse One

Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
Now I see the stars and I hear the rolling thunder
Thy art throughout the universe displayed

Chorus

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee how great Thou art oh how great Thou art. Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee how great Thou art how great Thou art

 

Verse four

When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
To take me home what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall kneel in humble adoration and there proclaim my God how great Thou art[xii]

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[i] Philippians 2:7-8 (MSG)

 

 

[ii] Christmas Revealed: Eternity Revealed (installment one) Pastor Dave Jansen Sunday, November 27, 2016 CenterPoint Church Gahanna   Gahanna, OH

 

[iii] Whitney Houston performs “Who Would Imagine A Kings”

 

Mommies and daddies always believe
That their little angels are special indeed
And you could grow up to be anything
But who would imagine a king

A shepherd or teacher is what you could be
Or maybe a fisherman out on the sea
Or maybe a carpenter building things
But who would imagine a king

It was so clear when the wise men arrived
And the angels were singing your name
That the world would be different 'cause you were alive
That's what heaven stood still to proclaim

One day an angel said quietly
That soon he would bring something special to me
And of all those wonderful gifts he could bring

Who would imagine, who could imagine
Who would imagine a king

[iv] John 3:16-18 (MSG)

 

[v] Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

 

[vi] Galatians 4:4-7 (MSG)

 

[vii] Quote by the character, Jeremiah Biggs, from the movie, Preacher’s Wife (1996)

 

[viii] Quote by the character, Sylvester, from the movie,  The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

 

[ix] Hebrews 4:15-16(MSG)

 

[x] Quote by Abraham Lincoln, 16^th president of the United States of America

 

[xi] Sign Me Up by Elizabeth A. Bishop, discussion question from “The Arrow” chapter

 

[xii] The hymn, “How Great Thou Art”