Christmas Meditations - The Incarnation

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (John 1:1-3) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

Christmas is not so much as Jesus' infancy as it is His deity.  The Bible is clear that the babe born that night in the manger was the incarnation of God.  But how can that be?  Our minds cannot really fathom how or why the Almighty Creator lowered himself to take on human flesh.  Why would One who was infinitely rich become poor and enter a world He knew would hate him and eventually crucify Him?  But He did.

The greatest condescension the world has ever known took place when "Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."  (Philippians 2:5-7) In obedience to the Father's will, Jesus, while remaining completely God, voluntarily suspended the full use of His divine attributes to accomplish the redemptive plan that was promised before time began. (Titus 1:2)