This is Christmas, Philippians 2:7 - but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. NIV

This is Christmas that Jesus, by his own desire to serve the Father and us, left the glory of heaven and His sole nature as God and added to Himself the very nature and likeness of mankind. Jesus morphed into a new being in the womb of Mary, a union of both divine and human that is beyond our understanding to be a most special suffering servant. This temporary transformation was foretold by the prophet Isaiah - Isaiah 42:1- Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. (ESV) and His purpose confirmed by Jesus - Matthew 20:28 - even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (ESV) While Jesus left His lofty place in Heaven by the Father’s side He never left His place in God’s care or love or provision or sight. He always was His chosen, His servant and His Son. From the highest of rank He came to be seen by the world as a servant and as a criminal hung on a cross, a cross that is our salvation and that then presented Him to the world as our Lord and Savior.

This is Christmas, Galatians 4:4 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (ESV)  Jesus came not on a chariot or a cloud, but through a woman and not in the appearance of a God, but He wore flesh as any other human. Remember how Moses’ face shown when he saw the glory of God, Jesus used the covering of human flesh to shield his glory from our casual viewing. Through His ministry on earth, the lasting glory of God shown through the covering of human flesh and revealed His grace and His truth (John 1:14).

The glory of God is the same as the rays of the sun when it is out of our sight by the clouds. The sun doesn’t stop shining or lose any of its brightness; we just cannot see it from our perspective. Take a plane ride on a cloudy day, where the sun is hidden by the low clouds and see the sun magnificently appear as the plane rises above those clouds and the sun can then been seen in total brightness once again.  If we see Christmas as just a holiday or Jesus as just a baby or a man, then sin has won. Sin has clouded our ability to fully see God, but the Law that exposed our sin and need for a Savior was fulfilled in Jesus and through His new covenant with us we can see the glory of God. He has given us access to the power needed to overcome our sin. 

This is Christmas,  2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (ESV) Jesus voluntarily went from ranking above the angels to take a position below the angels for a season, not because he was forced to, but because the Father desired Him to and we needed Him to. From the Son of God, he appeared to us as the son of a carpenter, a true Son of Man, Jesus’ favorite self-title during His ministry. He was a true servant! The serving that he demonstrated isn’t convenient humbleness or giving only from our excess; rather it is always taking the lower place and giving not of our excess, but of what we need. Only in this way can our trust in God flourish and can we see and experience His glory and show that glory to others. It can be Christmas year round, Merry Christmas. Amen.