11/27/19 – Pastor Brian’s Blog –
It will soon be the Christmas season, the time when God became flesh… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
When you really think about it, what an amazing thought! God who needs absolutely nothing, is willing to set His attributes aside to become flesh and bones like us. Us, with our limitations. Us, who get tired, who get sick, who gets lied about and even mistreated. And not only did Jesus become flesh, He chose to remain in His human body for 33 years.
Have you ever wondered, “Why did Jesus live on the earth as long as He did?” If it was my plan, I would have made sure that I was away from heaven as short a time as possible. I mean think about it, why not come to earth for one day, be killed, go back to heaven for 3 days and then come back to earth. Or better yet, stay high in the sky so people will see you and know that you are alive!
If you think that one day is too short, then what about one sinless month or one sinless year? Why did Jesus have to live like us for 33 years? To take on our sins was bad enough, but why stay long enough for Judas to betray you? Why endure the pain of having one of your best friends disappoint you when you needed him the most, like Peter did?
Why be so long from heaven, that you spent all your money and have to get a coin out of a fish’s mouth? Why spend 40 days in the dessert without water and without food, to be agitated by someone that wanted the worst things to happen to you?
For me, I would have come to earth when Beaver Cleaver and his parents were alive. I mean life was good then, and you still had many of the luxuries that we have today; a car, running water, telephone, TV and by that time the world had long moved on from crucifixion. Why would you want to come at a time when the leader of your country wanted to kill you when you were a baby and then rule over you with an iron fist when you were a man?
Why would you stay so long to see your father die? Why not leave before Lazarus, perhaps your best friend, died? Why would you want to see your mother screaming with a broken heart as you are being beaten and nailed to a cross? Why would you even spend time in the Garden of Gethsemane to pray when you already knew the outcome? Why in the world would God want to become flesh?
Why did Jesus become flesh? Because He wants us to trust Him. Jesus has been where you are, those times when people disappointed you, when people tried to hurt you or defame your character. Jesus knows what it feels like to look in the coffin of a friend or a parent. Jesus knows what is going through your mind when you pray but God doesn’t answer your prayer like you want Him too.
Jesus knows what it is like not to have enough money, He didn’t even have a pillow to lay His head on. Jesus knows how painful it is to watch the closest people to you hurt. Jesus also knows what it is like to invest your life into someone and then have them sell your friendship for little to nothing.
The Word became flesh so that He could live a life like us. He stayed so that when we come to Him with any problem, He can genuinely say, “I know exactly how you feel.” For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
Because the Word became flesh, He does not patronize our needs or scoff at them. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ brother James said…. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow and remember, it won’t be long until we again celebrate God becoming flesh!
