Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
–Philippians 2:5-8
My wife, Deb, and I love that little Christmas carol, Away in a Manger. But in that little carol, the statement is made, “The little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.” Now, as much as you and I are used to picturing the nativity as this all-peaceful moment where everyone was happy and calm, that wasn’t the case.
In fact, because He was fully human, Jesus cried just like any other baby. And not only that, He poured out tears on numerous occasions because He suffered in his humanity (John 11:35). He worked and He became weary, all because He came in humility. And that’s what Christmas is really about… the humility of Jesus Christ.
Today’s Scripture says that Jesus became obedient even to the point of death on the cross. You and I can’t even come close to imagining the shame or the pain of the cross… having your hands and feet nailed together and straining for just one more breath. That’s how Christ died!
The story of the nativity is the beginning of Christ’s journey to the cross. It began in the humblest of places and it ended in the humblest of places. So this Christmas, remember that Christ made Himself nothing so that you could have His riches!
BE THANKFUL THIS CHRISTMAS THAT BECAUSE OF CHRIST’S HUMILITY, YOU CAN HAVE HIS RICHES.
