WHEN GOD BECAME MAN
#012 WHEN GOD BECAME MAN
Scripture Matthew 2:1-6 Orig. 12-19-71
Rewr. 12-14-76
Passage: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Introduction
To contemplate the birth of Jesus, one must also consider that earlier birth of a planet, and birth of the generic man upon that planet. Back in the day when pollution was unknown, and ecology was unnecessary, man lived in what was a veritable Garden of Eden.
Of the little that we do know about that place, there is this fact about man’s beginnings. Around him were many trees. Of two of these we know the names—the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge. Imagination tells us what might have been names of other trees—virtue, strength, love, faith, obedience, trust, fidelity, honor. It was the tree of knowledge that man was disallowed any access.
You must be aware that there is a suitable recourse to knowledge when life is adequately lived. By having life, man can achieve knowledge. To have knowledge, however, is never any guarantee for life.
Thus, when man chose knowledge and rejected life, a rerouting of man’s priority became necessary. That rerouting ordered by God is declared in the story of the birth of Jesus. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin.”
And in His birth it is again declared—“I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.”
The birth of Jesus, then, was not an historical declarative, but a contemporary imperative. And it was more. It was when God became man.
I. When God Became Man, There was Submission to the Limitations of the Flesh. He experienced extreme physical privation. A prince born in a cattle stall—the wise men honored a king; the priests looked for a king; The Word foretold a king. But even earthly kings are not so treated. I remember the birth of England’s Prince. The throngs waited amid regal glories for the natal hour. I remember when the College of Cardinals elected a Pope. I remember election night 1968. I remember last evening, when the winning democrat pictured himself elected.
Was such privation necessary for the “Tiny King?” You remember, I am sure, that Satan promised Jesus the kingdoms of this world if Jesus would worship him. But you must remember that this is a betrayal of trust. The kingdoms of which he spoke were those of the King of Kings, and not Lord of Lords. This KING, and no tiny king is HE, came to help man find His way back to God. The king must be One with the subject who will honor Him. Hebrews 4:15: “We have a high priest who feels our infirmities.” His life and His ministry were to make it easier for man to believe—to reroute his priorities.
This privation experience is necessary for us as well. We must die to the flesh, live unto God. Matthew 18:3 “Except you become as little children, you shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven.”
II. When God Became Man, There was Surrender of All of the Divine Attributes. The power of God did not cease to be operative in the universe. But in Jesus, God Himself, became the deliverer, the sin bearer, the rerouter of man’s priorities.
Let’s be sure about our concept of a deliverer. Television and movies have given us what is a poor substitute for the real thing. There is always the same plot. The father can’t or won’t pay the rent, the damsel won’t agree to the landlord’s proposal (it used to be one of marriage), so he ties her to the railroad track to await the hero sweeping in to deliver. May I call your attention to the Biblical concept—He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. With His stripes we are healed. Even with His manliness, there was no compromise with purity and virtue. Hebrews 4:15 In all points He was tempted as we are, yet without sin.
III. When God Became Man, There was Subordination to the Holy Spirit. It was as Jesus accepted the fact of God’s Will that He was empowered to accomplish it. The hard fact of Jesus’ life was that He was willing to pay whatever price necessary to honor His heavenly Father—not human parents; not national heritage, not unborn multitudes; certainly not the human blood suckers who demand that we be like they are or a little worse. It is in the context of our willingness to honor our heavenly Father that we may be empowered for our task. May. May. May… The doubt is not in God’s ability, but in our will. John 14:12 “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these because I go to the Father.”
Conclusion
I read recently an account of a lady in the frontier days of the old west who came to the attitude of dependence upon the Holy Spirit. She lived with her husband in a mining town when gold fever was very high.
Someone told of an old prospector who lived alone in a shack back of town in the hills. He was dying. But about such a mean and vile man, no one cared. She went to him when no one would even go with her. He cursed her for coming. At the mention of mother, he cursed her. At mention of wife, he cursed her. After several visits she despaired to go again. Her little boy said “You didn’t pray. Have you given up? Has God given up?” She spent a night agonizing in prayer. She started visiting with a neighbor and her daughter. The little girl’s laugh became the key to the old man’s heart.
Our trouble is that we get bleary eyed and beatific over the birth of Bethlehem’s babe. Then after Christmas, we just revert to our old thinking about living among all of those agnostics and we are afraid to let them know that Christ is out of the manger and in our hearts.