Ascetic X
Active Member
It must have been bizarre for Jesus to turn into a human being, to be born as a helpless baby, in subjection to Mary and Joseph.
As we approach the December 25th celebration of His birth, let us contemplate, however imperfectly, what His life must have been like before He was physically born.
Prior to His incarnation, Jesus never experienced hunger, thirst, insults, sorrow, pain, weeping, groaning, weariness, or temptation.
In His pre-incarnate state in heaven, Jesus experienced only bliss. He enjoyed constant love from His Father and never felt lonely or forsaken. He was never whipped, beaten, spit upon, mocked, or nailed to any cross.
The life of Jesus on earth must have seemed alien to Him. What was it like the first time that Jesus felt uncomfortable, rejected, or needing to resist fleshly temptations like sexual lust, fear, anxiety, or violent anger?
Yet in the midst of all this strangeness and its challenges, He turned water into wine, trained disciples, and met the needs of the sick, crippled, dead, misinformed, and demon possessed individuals.
And when He went to the agonizing and humiliating death on the cross, Jesus did it for joy that was set before Him. He rejoiced, seeing all the souls that would be saved, set free from darkness, and enter eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.
I want to be more fully aware of the sacrifice of Christ, what His life and death on earth must have been like in all its dimensions, in contrast to His safe, trouble-free existence before He was incarnated. It is hard to fully imagine. Praise His name forever! What a wonderful Savior!
John 1:14 And the Word 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.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
As we approach the December 25th celebration of His birth, let us contemplate, however imperfectly, what His life must have been like before He was physically born.
Prior to His incarnation, Jesus never experienced hunger, thirst, insults, sorrow, pain, weeping, groaning, weariness, or temptation.
In His pre-incarnate state in heaven, Jesus experienced only bliss. He enjoyed constant love from His Father and never felt lonely or forsaken. He was never whipped, beaten, spit upon, mocked, or nailed to any cross.
The life of Jesus on earth must have seemed alien to Him. What was it like the first time that Jesus felt uncomfortable, rejected, or needing to resist fleshly temptations like sexual lust, fear, anxiety, or violent anger?
Yet in the midst of all this strangeness and its challenges, He turned water into wine, trained disciples, and met the needs of the sick, crippled, dead, misinformed, and demon possessed individuals.
And when He went to the agonizing and humiliating death on the cross, Jesus did it for joy that was set before Him. He rejoiced, seeing all the souls that would be saved, set free from darkness, and enter eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.
I want to be more fully aware of the sacrifice of Christ, what His life and death on earth must have been like in all its dimensions, in contrast to His safe, trouble-free existence before He was incarnated. It is hard to fully imagine. Praise His name forever! What a wonderful Savior!
John 1:14 And the Word 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.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
