Prophecy Fulfilled: Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 2:10-18
Supporting Scripture: Luke 9:28-36
I'm going to color outside of the lines a bit today. The texts that were on the guide that I have been using were Zechariah 9:9, Zechariah 11:12-13, Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 21:1-10, Matthew 26:15, Matthew 27:3-10, and John 19:27 but I just didn't feel like talking anymore (at least for now) about the crucifixion, Jesus' betrayal, and things like that. Instead, I want to turn back to one of the verses from last night and examine it a bit more closely.
If you have ever looked at the artwork created about Jesus you will notice that in much of it He tends to stand out. He usually has a halo and is making some weird gesture with His hand. When we sing our Christmas songs we talk about the "little, Lord Jesus no crying He makes," and our nativity scenes all feature a what would appear, judging by his size, to be a child of about 3 years. Our key scripture paints a different picture.
"There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him."Doesn't that mess with your mind a little bit? I mean He is the son of God, certainly He must have looked different - at least a little, right? Not according to the Scriptures. Jesus came into this world just like you or me. When the shepherds arrived they found everything just like the angels had told them. Sure enough there was a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger. No halos that we know of.
Paul wrote to the Philippians:
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Jesus, who is fully God, laid all of the privileges of Godhood aside and became just like us. The only difference between Jesus' manifestation as a baby and you is that Jesus was born without a sin nature.
I have heard it suggested that before Adam sinned in the Garden that he was clothed in God's glory. He was sinless and made in God's image. That seems reasonable. That being the case, Jesus would have been eligible to run around displaying God's glory too, but, Paul wrote in Romans 8:3 that God sent "...His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh... as an offering for sin." Jesus even laid aside the glory that was due Him because of His sinless nature to be just like you and me.
We do know of one instance where Jesus unveiled His glory while here on earth. You can read about it HERE.
Why do you suppose that Jesus came here "incognito?" Hebrews 2 gives us some clues.
10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that He should make Jesus, through His suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.I love that. Jesus didn't get any special perks just because He was God's son. (How many leaders could say that they don't use their position to gain a personal advantage?) No, He did everything just like you and me - except He did it without sinning. He faced the same temptations and struggles all of us face, but He came through it all without sinning even one time.
11 So now Jesus and the ones He makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters. 12 For He said to God, “I will proclaim Your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise You among Your assembled people.”
13 He also said, “I will put my trust in Him,” that is, “I and the children God has given me.”
14 Because God’s children are human beings — made of flesh and blood — the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; He came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested.
It was His perfection that allowed broken, dirty, vessels like us to be used of God and made into beautiful vessels of honor. Praise be to God!
Questions and thoughts to discuss with your family:
1) Have you ever felt plain and unattractive? Have you ever wished that you looked like someone else?
2) Have you ever been comforted in the midst of a hard time by someone sharing that experience with you or by someone who had experienced it before you?
3) The Bible tells us that Jesus was just like us in many ways. He suffered the pain of rejection, loneliness, sorrow, and even the same temptations that you and I face. Do you believe this statement? What is your reaction to this statement?
4) Why was it important for Jesus to become a human?
5) Who had the power of death? How was his power broken?
6) Are you afraid of dying? Why? What did Jesus do to take away this fear?
7) What did Jesus' sacrifice do?
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