Jesus's First Sacrifice
What makes you most comfortable? Is it sitting in your cozy house, in front of a fire, reading a book or watching a Christmas movie? Are you most comfortable with people you know, and the thought of meeting new people makes your insides squirm? Does your comfortability come from feeling financially secure and in control? Comfort means something different to each of us, but we can all pinpoint what in our lives makes us most comfortable.
How difficult would it be for you to sacrifice your comfortability for a time being, say decades. Would you easily give up your comforts to do something that was difficult, burdensome, and maybe even harmful? Could you give up your comfort knowing in the end it would be more than worth it?
Jesus gave up His comfort to come to earth. He existed before He was born on this earth. Pre-existence is defined as “existence in a former state or previous to something else.” Before Jesus was born that long ago Christmas morning, He was already in existence as the second Person of the triune God. Before Jesus is arrested in John 17, He says a prayer. Part of this prayer He is praying for Himself and He says, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Jesus was one with God before He came to earth and just before He was arrested, He was asking His Father to restore Him to His original place of honor and authority. He was ready to return to the right hand of God. He was with God at creation, He rules with God, and He is perfect and lived in perfection without sin. God sent Jesus to earth to be born in a stable surrounded by dirty animals, to be a part of a sinful and evil loving world, to be humble and obedient. Jesus was made human and was sent to die. His sacrifice did not only happen on the cross, His sacrifice began the second He was born in that stable.
The doctrine of Christ “self-emptying” Himself in the incarnation is called kenosis. The word comes from Philippians 2:7 which says, “he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” This verse does not specify what Christ gave up and we must be careful not to go beyond what scripture says. One commentator says, “Jesus did not empty Himself of His divine attributes-no such attributes are mentioned in Philippians 2:7, and it is obvious in the gospels that Jesus possessed the power and wisdom of God. Calming the storm is just one display of Jesus’s divine power in Mark 4:39. In coming to earth, the Son of God did not cease to be God, and He did not become a ‘lesser god.’” What He did set aside was His heavenly glory and He voluntarily refrained from using His divinity to make His life on earth easier. Christ completely surrendered Himself to the Father. Jesus got tired, thirsty, and hungry. Instead of emptying Himself of His heavenly attributes, He took on the role of a man.
God gave us the gift of Jesus here on earth for multiple reasons.
Jesus revealed the Father to us. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being. Jesus allowed for us to see an unseen God. Jesus revealed God’s love, goodness, compassion, impartiality, and justice. Jesus showed us that we can approach God the way a child approaches a Father. One commentator says, “Jesus spoke God’s words, thought God’s thoughts, felt and expressed God’s emotions, and did God’s works.” Jesus was God in the flesh, and we now have His Word that reveals Him to us.
Jesus was sent to abolish sin. The old Levitical system had sacrifices that were not sufficient to completely take away sin. But there was one perfect Lamb that could sacrifice once and for all, Jesus. Through faith in Jesus, we have full deliverance from sin. Not only are we delivered from the sin itself, but we are delivered from the grip it holds on to us. Jesus gifted us with true peace with God.
Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” The devil had been working hard to build a kingdom for himself and to devour every believer of God. God had a well-thought-out plan to destroy him and Jesus delivered the punch. Jesus destroyed the devils plan of deception, sin, and death. Jesus will always remain the victor of the devil’s schemes.
Jesus was the perfect example of a holy life. In 1 Peter 2:21, Peter tells believers to follow in Jesus’s footsteps. We are to strive to be like Jesus in our suffering, compassion, and trials. We see Jesus’s example of handling temptation and He did so without sin. He shows us how to have a robust prayer life. Jesus also is the example of how to be holy through our words and actions. Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit to empower Him.
Christians are eternally grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus coming to earth. We are grateful for the gift of His humility, obedience, and willingness to complete His mission. Jesus says in John 17:4, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” Thank you, Jesus!
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, who he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1-2
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
Digging Deeper:
How are you thanking Jesus this Christmas season as you remember what He gave up for you?
How has God called you to step out of your comfort zone?
Where do you need to be obedient to God’s calling in your life?