Often in the holiday season, we are reminded by pastors, teachers, parents, and grandparents that we have to remember the heart of Christmas during all of our festivities. When we think of what the heart of Christmas is, I’m sure our minds go to the wonderful stories of Luke 2 and Matthew 1. These stories show how Jesus came into this world to fulfill God the Father’s covenant of redemption for the lost whom he came to seek and save. Behind this glorious truth lies something very striking that we may miss inside the story of Jesus’ incarnation, and that is just how humbly he came.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Jews were looking forward to the coming Messiah. In Isaiah 9, Jesus is prophecied as being worthy of the names Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. He would be such an outstanding figure that the whole heavenly government would be on His shoulders. The Messiah, according to the Jews, would be someone magnificent, a deliverer from political oppression, and someone who would follow the law perfectly according to the Pharisaical tradition. Imagine being a Jew in the time of Isaiah and hearing how Isaiah described this coming Divinity. We would be excited for Him to show His power and rule our nation! But the heart of Christmas isn’t that Jesus is a political deliverer or even a figure that came to display His amazing divine power, but it shows Jesus as the humble Saviour. Matthew 1 ends by saying, “And he called His name JESUS.” Jesus means Saviour. This is the true purpose of the Messiah, to save His people from their sins. Furthermore, the way that Jesus entered this world as the Saviour defies the Jews’ expectations and shows the heart of Jesus’ incarnation. He came humbly! Not in splendour or pride, but by coming down to earth on our level. Even in worse conditions than we could imagine being born into. He was born unto a couple whom people would’ve thought were adulterous, in the middle of sheep and oxen, and with the meek cries of a human baby. This is the humble heart of Jesus. Hebrews 2:17 says, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Jesus came humbly so that He could be merciful and faithful as a brother.
So, inside the story we often hear during this time of the year, there is the remarkable truth of just how humble the Lord Jesus is as he came in such lowly conditions. But this portrays Jesus’ true character, doesn’t it? Jesus himself describes himself this way when he says in Matthew 11:29, “For I am gentle and lowly in heart.” When united to Christ, what a humble saviour we can rejoice with, in the Christmas season! No wonder the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”