How God Became Man
Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:6-11
Being in very nature God … [Jesus] made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant …
Philippians 2:6-7
Last January many of us watched the events of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Millions of people sat glued to their televisions as athletes competed for gold. Some of the athletes who did not win showed their disappointment publicly. More than one left for their home country immediately after their event, upset and angry. Of course! They had trained, dreaming of gold. Besides, it’s in our nature to want to outdo the other person. It goes against the grain to sit on the bench, to play second fiddle, or to be relegated to the back seat.
But that’s what the Lord Jesus chose to do when he “made himself nothing.” Paul says that Jesus, “who, being in very nature God … made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.” That’s what makes the coming of the Savior the most amazing event in all history. The Lord of heaven and earth, who was from all eternity, made himself nothing. The eternal Son of God took on the nature of a servant. From the glories of heaven he stooped to be born in a stable.
I encourage you to read these verses several times today. Spend some time during this Advent season to thank Jesus for his willingness to become nothing so that we might be saved and become somebody!
Lord Jesus, thank you for your willingness to leave the glories of heaven for us. Thank you for becoming a servant so that we might be saved. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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