The surrounding pungency of hay, hitting his nostrils for the first time . . .
The cool night air brushing against his newborn flesh for the first time . . .
Warm milk flowing over his tongue for the first time . . .
Seeing the darkness of night . . .
Experiencing the helplessness of newborn muscles dependent on another to wrap him in warmth . . .
Having to rely on two inexperienced parents to care for his every need . . .
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
Philippians 2:6-7 NLT
What was it like?
To go from Creator and Sustainer of everything to vulnerable, helpless baby who could do nothing productive?
To go from knowing all things to having senses dependent on physical nerves and synapses?
To go from infinite, eternal God who fills all and is in all to being contained in the limited space of one body made of skin, muscle and bone?
To leave the grandeur of heaven itself for the smelly, scratchy, painful experience of birth in a stable?
What was it like?
Feeling grass between his toes . . .
Passing out after a long day of hard play . . .
Getting his first splinter . . .
Making his first friend . . .
Climbing his first tree . . .
Catching his first fish . . .
Building his first table . . .
Obeying his parents, whom He himself had created . . .
Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:17
Jesus came with a mission, but the journey from the manger to the cross was filled with experiences we can all relate to.
The smell and taste of fresh bread . . .
The sight of dark clouds just before a storm . . .
The feel of dirt between our toes . . .
The sound of waves lapping on the beach . . .
But at the same time, none of us knows what it’s like to leave a place of ultimate power and authority over everything to become . . . a baby.
What was it like??
Lauri Hawley 