Jesus as a baby

Each day we’ll look closely at the life of Jesus, the God-Man. Together, we’ll walk through the 33 years of his earthly life. Let’s begin by considering his first moments in the world. Begin by asking God to open the eyes of your understanding, just as he did for the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45).

Questions from your reading

Read through today’s scripture/s, then come back to consider these questions:

• As God took on the form of man in Jesus, what are some things he experienced for the first time?
• When Jesus became a man and walked on earth, he temporarily and voluntarily chose not to exercise omnipresence (the ability to be everywhere at once). What other things did Jesus set aside in order to be human?
• What was God’s motivation for becoming flesh and blood?
• What other questions still come to mind?

Reflecting on your reading

God became man! Is there any thought more surprising than that? God Almighty took on human form and entered our world. He chose to begin life as a baby, not arrive as a grown man. The Bible says that he “made himself nothing” (Phil. 2:7) and took on a body to live among us. Yet he never ceased to be fully God. He was still all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. Even so, he veiled his deity and intentionally limited his powers in order to become truly human. He was made like us in every way so that he could represent us at the cross (Heb. 2:17).

Jesus left heaven’s glory for earth’s obscurity. What a sacrifice for God to become one of us! The Creator entered creation so that he might not only be our God, but also our High Priest (Heb. 2:17) and our way to God (John 14:6). What an unexpected way to save the world: God’s gift to us came wrapped as a baby.

Have you ever thought about the many gifts God the Father gave his Son, Jesus, on the night he was born? Think for a moment about what those gifts might have been. They are written in Scripture, though not always recognised as gifts.

How about the gift of a name? God said to call him Jesus (Matt. 1:21), and it became “the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:9–10). There is nothing like a good name (Prov. 22:1)!

Can you think of any other gifts?

Here are some examples:

• The gift of obedient parents. Mary and Joseph were remarkable. They did exactly what God asked. When God told Mary she would have a baby—even though she had never been with a man—she responded, “May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). When God told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife (Matt. 1:20), he obeyed and took her home. God instructed them to name the child Jesus (Matt. 1:21), and they did. What an example of obedience! One of the greatest gifts anyone can give—to children, parents, friends, or anyone—is simple obedience to God.
• The gift of a place to be born: a manger outside an inn. At first glance, this hardly seems like a gift. Yet perhaps it was one of the most memorable. Imagine the stories Jesus could tell about his birthplace: “I was born in a manger outside an inn because there was no room for my family.” Why would God allow his Son such humble beginnings? Hebrews 5:8 may hold a clue—take a closer look.

Can you imagine receiving gifts like these at birth?

Some other gifts:

• The gift of a birth announcement and possibly a song, sung by angels (Luke 2:9–14). Can you imagine the rehearsal in heaven for that performance?
• The gift of a star (Matt. 2:2–10). Where did that star go? If it still exists, which one is it?
• The gift of a family (Mark 6:3). What would it have been like to grow up as Jesus’ earthly brother or sister?

Applying what you’ve read

What gifts has God your Father given you? Make a list.

Spend time thanking him for those gifts—especially for becoming flesh and blood for you. Then go out today and share what you have discovered with at least two other people.