THE WORD BECAME FLESH!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And theWord was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:1,14, KJV).

Devotion 4 of 10 HE HUMBLED HIMSELF

He "humbled Himself." He was not coerced, but voluntarily laid aside the vestments of glory in order to save us. It is written, He "made himself of no reputation." The RSV says "He emptied Himself." The NIV says "made Himself nothing." Who is capable of perceiving the greatness of this affirmation. He submitted to a state where strength and wisdom would be derived! Mark it well, when He was "the Word," His strength was NOT derived. Oh, I want you to see this aspect of your redemption! When Jesus entered into the world, He was not omniscient, omnipresent, nor omnipotent. He entered as "a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes," totally dependent--TOTALLY! He through whom God "made the worlds" (Heb 1:3), was placed under the care of Joseph. When Herod sought the life of the child, the angel of God did not warn the infant Jesus, but Joseph (Matt 2:13). A descent of this magnitude has never been conceived by any created being! From the highest to the lowest! The cost of your salvation, when seen, exerts unparalleled power upon the human spirit. In this humbled state, the Lord Jesus RECEIVED what He needed WHEN He needed it. The repository of Deity was not within Him. He now received from the Father, and was directed by Him. He Who was with God and was God, was now dependent upon His Father. Hear Him testify. "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things" (John 8:28). "I speak what I have seen with My Father . . . " (John 8:38). "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak" (John 12:49). "Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak" (John 12:50). "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19). "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30). These things could not be said of the Word, Who was "in the beginning," was "with God, and was God!" When He was made known to the world, the Spirit of God descended upon Him, and remained there (Matt 3:16; John 1:33). Such phenomenon could only occur to the Word made humble! The humiliating form. The humiliation of our Lord is not found, however, in His entrance into the world as a child. It is found in His servanthood: He "took upon him the form of a servant." He was God's servant, come into the world to provide a basis for the implementation of God's "eternal purpose." He Who made all things, and for Whom all things were made (Heb 2:10), willingly submitted to a condition of subjection or subserviency. He had to rely upon God, obey God, and increase in favor toward Him (Luke 2:52). Let every soul presumptuous enough to balk at the requirement of total submission behold the Savior! See Him in a submissive state, and ponder how you will be able to stand before His judgment seat if you fail to submit to Him. In all, of this, He did not assume the form of an angel, but of man! Scripture apprizes us that it was becoming for Him to be made like unto us, not like angels (Heb 2:10). Those who affirm "the angel of His presence" (Isa 63:9), and "the angel of the Lord"( Ex 3:2; Psa 34:7, etc.) mentioned in the Old Scriptures, refers to Jesus, are in error. Were this the case, "the Word" would have "humbled Himself" prior to being "made flesh." Whatever may be said of angels, they are "servants," in every sense of the word (Job 4:18). To have "the Word" operating in the capacity of a servant prior to being made flesh would require Him becoming a servant two times. However, His humiliation is associated exclusively with our redemption, never with the deliverance of Israel, or various appearances prior to His entrance into the world. One time humbled! One time laying aside the vestments of Deity! One time stripped of the prerogatives which were His by nature! It was humbling to Him because He was required to lay aside the effulgence of His glory. It was, however, becoming to Him because it revealed the glory of His character, and the greatness of His love. For man to become like God is a staggering consideration. For God to become like man is more staggering! However the greatness of the distance traversed for us to be "conformed to the image of God's Son" (Rom 8:29-30), a greater distance was negotiated when "the Word became flesh," taking upon Himself the form of man. His humility was greater than ours! His obedience is more a marvel than ours! His willingness is of greater magnitude than ours! In the world, "the Word" made "flesh." Something is involved in that enfleshment that reaches into our hearts. It is arresting to consider the extent of His experience in the body. "He learned obedience by the things which He suffered" (Heb 5:8, NKJV). Of that learning process it is written, "who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear" (Heb 5:7. NKJV). Stand in the presence of such condescension, and give glory to God! This was no pretension! The Savior did not feign reliance upon God! His tears were real! His vehement cries were genuine! His fear was bona fide!

-- TOMORROW: THE EXTENT OF HIS HUMILIATION --