When He Became Human

 By: Joanne Viola

It’s amazing how this time of year causes us to turn our attention to the birth of Christ and the events surrounding His arrival. It is astounding to think of Deity dwelling on earth and living as one of us.

What was it like to watch Him crawl for the first time? Or lose His very first baby tooth? How did He play with the other children? Did He ever need discipline from His earthly parents?

Scripture reminds us ….

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14, NASB)

His home. Among us humans. Let’s take time to think a bit about His experience with humanness. It is both astounding and humbling to recognize the importance of this:

• His humanness brought Him understanding of our humanness. “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15, NASB). We can come boldly to His throne and find mercy and grace when we need it most because He fully understands.
• His humanness brought Him the ability to help us in my time of need. “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17, NASB).
• His humanness helps Him to remember. “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust” (Psalm 103:14, NASB). He remembers the struggles, the pains, the hurts, the ups and downs of being human. And that remembrance moves Him to offer mercy and grace to us still struggling in our humanness.

There are days we struggle with being human. Probably most days. We get tired. Overwhelmed. Stressed. Cranky. Emotional. Worried. It is on those very days, we find He understands us most and comes to help us in our weaknesses.

All because He was born in the manger.
The Word became human.
And He remembers.

 

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash