Matthew 2 … Consider Him, the Child

Originally posted: 04/01/2019

The whole concept of Jesus becoming human is just too much to comprehend; and not just human, but a helpless babe, a Child.

Think about it. Couldn’t He have come to earth as human, fully grown? Why come as a babe, so dependent, so needy, so insignificant?

It’s not very majestic after all. The Creator became the creature; the Protector became the protected; the Defender became the defended; the Ruler became the refugee. The Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent became the obedient.

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, (Philippians 2:8).

Jesus would ultimately give up His human life on earth on the cross. But before the cross would come a cradle, and the Champion would become the Child. Even before the cross there would be much suffering, for He came as a Child.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered, (Hebrews 5:8).

Has this question ever crossed your mind? How could Jesus, the Omniscient, All-Knowing God, learn anything? This Greek word translated as, “learn”, means “to learn from experience, often with the implication of reflection.”

We can be certain His suffering did not begin at the cross, for He came as one of us, a Child, into a dark and broken world filled with injustice and evil. He chose to come into our mess, to experience our hurts and struggles, and so become our perfect High Priest.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin, (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus came as the Child and learned, from experience, obedience; even at such a great cost. He is not asking anything from us that He does not fully understand Himself; and because He experienced humanity from birth to death, He sympathizes with us! Such comfort and encouragement that comes because He came as the Child.

But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” (Luke 18:16).

He Himself led the way. He came as the Child so that we, in childlike faith, would come to Him.

Consider Him, the Child

• The Child, Emptied
  • Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, (Philippians 2:5-7).

• The Child, Obedient
  • Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, (Philippians 2:8).

• The Child, Surrendered
  • “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me,” (John 6:38).

How do we respond to Him, the Child?

• Let us learn from the wise men:
  “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” … ¹¹ After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, (2:2, 11).
  • God has given us the light of His Word, to lead us to Him, so that we too may seek Him, come to Him, and worship Him with treasures fit for a King:
    • How can a young man keep his way pure?
      By keeping it according to Your word.
      ¹⁰ With all my heart I have sought You;
      Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
      ¹¹ Your word I have treasured in my heart,
      That I may not sin against You, (Psalm 119:9-11).

• Let us learn from the Child:
  He learned obedience… (Hebrews 5:8).
  • May we come to Him as children with teachable hearts, so we may learn from Him to offer our lives emptied, obedient, and surrendered.
    • At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants… ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,”  (Matthew 11:25, 29).

• Let us also learn of the enemy:
  “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him,” (2:13).
  • As we seek to become more like Him the Child, the enemy will continuously be in hot pursuit, forever seeking to destroy our childlike faith with his devouring doubt, discouragement, and despair.
    • We are to be wise of the enemy’s tactics.
      • so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes, (2 Corinthians 2:11).
        
    • We are to be vigilant and serious in guarding our hearts and committing our lives as emptied, obedient, and surrendered to Our Father; He has promised to do the rest.
      • Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. ¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. ¹¹ To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen, (1 Peter 5:8-11).
    • We are to be assured the enemy is already defeated!
      • But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us, (Romans 8:37).

Thank You Jesus, for choosing to come as a Child, given to us for our every need. Oh, that we would worship You for Who You are:
You are our Creator and we are Your creatures;
You are our Protector and we are Your protected ones;
You are our Defender and we are Your defended ones;
You are our Ruler and we take refuge in You;
You are the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent One and we come to You as Your obedient ones.

Yes, thank You Jesus, for coming as the Child!

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, (Isaiah 9:6).

Let’s Grow Together!