A Life in Exile

The holiday we just celebrated would not be in existence were it not for the birth of Christ. As much as the world wants to make it into a day for Santa, gifts, food, and family, none of that would be around without the child. Now that Santa has done his duty, gifts have been given, food eaten, and family prepares to go back to normal routines, Christ remains.

See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

Matthew 1:23 (CSB)

Whether acknowledged, worshipped, or ignored, the reality of Christ’s birth has changed the world, because he was no ordinary child—no, he was the child who was born to die.

Pressing toward his purpose.

Christ took on flesh to fulfill the Father’s purpose in restoring the relationship with mankind that sin destroyed. To leave his throne in the heavens and enter as a baby took humility and obedience that is hard for us to grasp.

Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.

Philippians 2:5b-7a

We often forget that from the birth of Jesus until the time he begins his ministry, thirty years went by. Thirty years of listening to his parents, growing as a boy, working with his father, attending synagogue. Thirty years of submission to others, modeling for us how to live the same.

Then the ministry, about which four men wrote, lasted three years—a tenth of his total time on earth. Three short years to teach and prepare others to take the message of his life and purpose to the world. For those of us who have gotten a college degree or trained a co-worker, three years seems like a short period of time. Jesus knew, however, he would be sending help to those he trained once he left this earth.

Born to die.

Christ took on flesh to fulfill the Father’s purpose, to model for us a life of obedience and service to God, and to die in order to break the hold of sin.

And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.

Philippians 2:7b-8

Jesus had thirty years to live as a man, experiencing both physical and emotional pain which comes naturally in this fallen world. Yet, in all the ways he suffered, he knew from his earliest of years, that he would ultimately experience the excruciating pain of the cross. Once he entered his years of ministry, the pressure of that reality must have been overwhelming; yet, we know he still prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Born to die that we might live.

His death was not the end, but the gateway through which Jesus paid the ransom required for our sin. He is the atoning sacrifice. He who willingly laid down his life also had the power to raise it up again, conquering death and giving all who believe access to God and resurrection to eternal life.

For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

For this reason, Christmas is not a holiday we can ignore but another reason to praise God and be thankful for all Christ has done and continues to do on our behalf. The child was born, the man died, the Christ rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven, making his Spirit available to all who believe on him.

Immanuel—God is with us each and every day.

Grace and Peace