The Savior, Pt. 3
Have you ever been so embarrassed that you just wanted to crawl up into the fetal position, close your eyes, and pray that you would be transported away from reality? I remember when I was in 5th grade, I was jumping on some tables outside in my elementary school’s play yard, and I slipped and fell face-first into the edge of a table, breaking my front tooth in half. I ended up going to the dentist that day, and they put a silver cap over the tooth to temporarily cover the exposed root while I had to wait for them to fashion a porcelain veneer cap. Well, it just so happened that we had our school pictures the very next day. To compound the problem, while I wanted to simply offer a close-lipped smile in my picture, the photographer wanted to be funny and suggested I say “Girls!” (as opposed to the classic “Cheese”). Needless to say, my 5th grade school picture permanently memorialized my silver tooth through an awkward, half-smile that seared this embarrassing moment into my mind forever!
As embarrassing as that was, it pales in comparison to the life of humiliation that Jesus chose to endure throughout his 33 years of life. Remembering the very nature of his self-imposed humiliation that is captured in texts like Philippians 2:5-8 along with other texts, the humiliation of our Lord served a divine purpose that set us up for something greater than we could ever imagine.
Consider what David writes in Psalm 22:6-8: “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him; for he delights in him!” Though these words were the reflection of a man in great sorrow and emotional distress as he was fleeing for his life, trying to escape an evil king, these words of David pointed to a greater fulfillment through the life of Jesus Christ himself.
Remember the journey that Jesus had to make from his trial before Pontius Pilate to the hill of Golgotha where he would be crucified on the cross. The same people who praised him days before were now mocking him, spitting on him, rejecting him. Remember how the Roman soldiers fashioned a crown of thorns and pressed it onto his head, mocking him as this “fake” king. Even more so, when he finally got on that cross, one of the criminals next to him challenged him to save himself if he really was the Son of God.
Imagine how embarrassing and heart-breaking it was to endure all that shame and humiliation from the very people whom you came to save. And yet, it’s that very humiliation that our Lord endured so that he could offer us the greatest Christmas gift of all – new life in him! Christ took the humiliation and the scorn, so that ultimately, we wouldn’t have to ourselves. He willingly suffered through the mockery and scorn and despise of others so that we could receive the joy and peace and love of God.
Tonight is Christmas Eve. As we reflect on the beauty and holiness of this night, let’s not forget what the Christ child would endure for you and for me. And in doing so, let us give him all the praise and glory and honor!