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Christ Who Came to a Manger
(Lk2:1-14)
God is the exalted, the Most High (Ps92:8, 97:9).
He is in the highest heaven, and
His existence and His name are to be exalted (Ps7:17, 9:2, 111:9).
He dwells with those who are lowly and revives them (Is57:15).
Faith is longing for Him and
The life of this faith is becoming all the more lowly in order to serve Him.
For the dignity of a man is determined usually by the environment where he dwells and
The status of those who are near him,
People prefer those of a superb family and excellent education.
Then, how much better conditions would those who want to serve and live with a king need?
In spite of the fact the first man Adam was
Endowed with the privilege to rule over the Garden of Eden (Ge2:15),
He was deceived by Satan who attempted in heaven to be like the Most High and was
Cast down to Hades (Is14:12-15), and
Committed the same sin and was banished from the Garden (Ge3:4-6, 24).
Though God promised Abraham that kings would come from his descendants, the Israelites (Ge17:6),
They lived as slaves in Egypt for 430 years and in the desert for 40 years (Ex12:41; Nu14:34), and
God even added the Law.
It was, however, to humble and test them so that in the end all will go well with them (Dt8:14-18).
God instructed them to build the sanctuary where
As a kingdom of priests they would serve the name Jehovah (Ex19:6; 2Ch2:1, 4)
However, Yeshua said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would tear down the temple made with earthly things for the name Jehovah and
Raise a new temple made with His precious blood for the name Yeshua (1Pe1:18) for
He came lowly to a manger in a little town called Bethelem and served the Father (Mi5:2; Lk2:7).
While He cursed high regions of Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum etc (Mt11:20),
He was delighted to visit alienated villages like Bethany (Jn11:18).
He declared the judgment against the prince of the world (Jn12:31)
Though He turned down the plea of becoming their king (Jn18:36), for which
The Jews became disappointed and betrayed Him.
As He died, Yeshua said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that:
1) The very nature God came in the likeness of a sinner, a man, and humbled Himself to the
point of death on a cross and exalted the Father as the only Most High (Php2:6-8);
2) He condemned the devil who attempted to exalt himself (1Jn3:8); and
3) He became a ransom lower than a sinner (Mt20:28).
The Father raised Him from the grave and
Exalted Him to heaven (Mk16:19; Php2:9-11).
The Holy Spirit comes to those who receive the name Yeshua (Jn1:12; Rev3:20) and
Lets them know that the name Yeshua alone is the Most High, the exalted name.
The man of the Spirit is he who
Confesses that he is the sinner, the poor, the sick whose dreams had been shattered (Mt5:3).
Therefore, whatever the test or the temptation he faces
He resolves to become all the more humble and lowly for
He understands that in his brokenness and lowliness
The name Yeshua is exalted.
This is because while Jehovah is the name served by the high priest, the superior man
Yeshua is the name above all names served by the lowest man, the sinner.
O Lord,
Yeshua!
Your name alone is the Most High, to be exalted.
How can we become more broken and
Finally be near You and serve You?
Let us be crushed.
Let us be crumbled.
Let us be broken even more! Amen.