Life Lessons from Jesus' Incarnation

Having surgery just days into the season of Advent left me feeling acutely aware of the limitations of my earthly flesh. My own human frailty was all too apparent. Days spent sick and exhausted, a nighttime run to the ER when the nausea became unbearable, seeing the panic in my family member’s eyes as we discerned if an ambulance was needed. Our human bodies are just so incredibly frail. During that season of health challenges, the incarnation of Jesus (his taking on our earthly flesh) felt even more significant. What a wonder that God chose to take on our fragile human form and live in our broken world! How great is God’s love that Jesus would stoop so low for us!

Marveling at the mystery

I marveled at the miracle that the God of heaven stepped down into our earthly reality. Jesus took on human flesh and accepted our fleshly limits, and this was all before modern medicine or indoor plumbing! For us God left his throne in heaven and came to our broken world, taking on our fragile human condition. This is what sacrificial love looks like.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Phil 2:5-7).

For us and for our salvation, God took on our flesh and became our Immanuel, our God-with-us, dwelling in human form. It made me pause and wonder about the miracle that the almighty God, who set the universe in place, would choose to take on our human flesh and endure our bodily limitations. The boundless and extravagant love of God defies any explanation and sets an example for us to follow in our relationships.

Following Jesus’ empathy

Our high priest Jesus has experienced the messiness of this life and has empathy for our situation. He experienced how hard life can be. God is not distant from the suffering we experience.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Our tears are not unseen and God cares about each tear that falls. We are blessed to have a God who understands our pain and cares deeply about us. He has shown us the importance of caring about others and acting with compassion. The story of the good Samaritan invites us to cross all manner of barriers to love our neighbors sacrificially.

Choosing compassion

Jesus modeled a great example of sacrificial love for us to follow. Jesus took the servant’s role to wash the feet of his disciples. Jesus spent time with the outcasts and set us an example to follow. Jesus challenges us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. If the God of heaven was willing to step into the messiness of our lives, shouldn’t we seek to step into carrying the burdens of others? Since Jesus clothed himself in compassion to draw us near to God, consider how you can step into the lives of others to carry their burdens and help them see God’s love.

Walking with us

In the midst of our limitations, God is present with us. We are never alone in our struggles. God walks with us through every challenge that we face in this life. Jesus promises to be with us until the end of time (Matthew 28), and he perseveres with us through the darkest valleys (Psalm 23). We have a God who has chosen to be faithfully present with us. Whenever we feel overwhelmed by life’s circumstances, we can find assurance in knowing that God’s Spirit is residing within us and we are never truly alone. Jesus models for us in the incarnation, the importance of showing up to help others. How are we showing up and being present to care for the pain of others?

Jesus left heaven to help us, what are we willing to sacrifice to care for the needs of those in our community? How might we love sacrificially in our families? How might we act with compassion to care for the needs of those who are hurting? How can we be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world?