Hebrews 2:14-15

New International Version

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

For Meditation

The incarnation is the mystery of all mysteries—all ages. How could God become human and limit Himself to time and space? How does the Almighty God, Creator of all seen and unseen, take on human flesh and remain God simultaneously?

The angels who announced it longed to know, as well as the prophets who spoke about it over the years. No spiritual authority or ruler in the heavenly realms had a hint. The counsel of the Godhead remained a mystery until He unveiled it at its set time.

That set time fully came (Gal. 4:4-5) when the second person in the Godhead got off His seat by the Father’s right hand in heaven and emptied Himself of all His prerogatives as God (Phil. 2:6-8). For how could He come in His radiance to live among men? Who could behold His complete, resplendent, majestic glory and live? So, He made Himself nothing that He could take on the role of a servant, a servant to humanity as our Savior.

Since the target of His grace has flesh and blood, He too clothed Himself with human flesh (Heb. 2:14) as a fetus by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin maiden in Nazareth (Lk. 1:35). The rest is history, the day Christ was born in Bethlehem to Mary (2:4-7)—a history never to be repeated.

As Mary looked in the face of her firstborn son on her lap, she looked in the very face of the Creator of the universe — her Creator and ours. He was no ordinary baby. The child cradled in her arms was fully God and fully human in a hypostatic union, without confusion or admixture. That is why He is God incarnate!

By His infinite mercy and grace, God had shared in our humanity to free us who all our lives were held in slavery by our fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15). Christ came to redeem us from the law, that we might receive the adoption of sonship (Gal. 4:5).

So, as you celebrate Christmas this year, marvel at the mystery of the incarnation and the reason for His condescension. Let that fuel your worship, and be determined to uphold His name everywhere by your faithful witness so that others may also come and receive His grace for their salvation.

Pray with Me

Father, we thank you for your condescension at our level to lift us from the tomb to the height where you dwell. We worship you today and forever, amen!