That Baby Boy

Public domain image by Elsie Egermeir from author’s collection–please see notes

Few had the wonderful privilege Simeon did when he held baby Yeshua (Jesus). Powered by the Holy Spirit he said (Lk. 2:30-31), “…mine eyes have seen thy salvation,  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people…”  Also privileged were those who saw Yeshua grow into manhood. By the Spirit Luke succinctly writes (Lu 2:52), “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

This might be baffling to some. After all, how can God grow into these things, especially in favor with Himself? Though God in flesh, we find the Son not knowing the time of His return (Mk. 13:32), restricted by others (Mk. 6:5-8), and subordinate to the Father (John 14:28) among other things. Why so if He be God?

The answer to these and similar queries can be seen in what Simeon said, that God prepared our needed salvation before human eyes. By the Holy Spirit the four Gospel writers who witnessed the life of Christ described Him and His actions for us. Later, it is written (Php. 2:6-7, Williams), “Though He was existing in the nature of God, He did not think His being on an equality with God a thing to be selfishly grasped, but He laid it aside, as He took on the nature of a slave and became like other men.”

Simply put, though remaining God in flesh, He chose to live as we must, as a mere human dependent upon the written Word and leading of the Holy Spirit. While indeed He is our example, for salvation He must be more than example. He must be our life.

Whereas God is perfect, not one person among us, no matter how “good” he may be, and regardless if there were no wilful sin on their part, would ever in His sight truly meet His requirement for us to be perfect (Mt. 5:48). Our inherited sin nature causes us to fall short.

However, upon the conception of His flesh in our time, Messiah, termed as the “second man” in 1 Corinthians 15:47, became a “fresh start.” Hebrews 5:8-9 indicates the works of obedience that please the Father were completed in Him, and so He is the author of salvation to those who obey Him.

Public domain image by Elsie Egermeir from author’s collection–please see notes

Christ has every righteous act, attitude, and quality pleasing to the Father. He was born not only to die for us, but to trust and obey for us. When we fully trust and commit to Him, permitting Him to dwell within, we then have the ability to not only sense the Holy Spirit, but also to obey the written Word and His Spirit.

If you have not committed to Christ, or have drifted away, I encourage you to surrender your all to Him. For us who say we are His disciples, may we unreservedly love Him, expressing such love in absolute obedience to Him, just as He unreservedly loved us and obeyed the Father even unto death. In so doing, thanks to the Son, we too become sons of God (John 1:12).

Notes:

Mk. 13:32–Christ, having finished our salvation for us, ascended and was restored to His former glory (mentioned in John 17:5), and now knows (Col. 2:2-3).

Public domain images were edited and enhanced by author using GIMP 2.6. Feel free to use but I would appreciate a link back to this article if possible.

Unless otherwise noted, all Holy Scripture is from the Authorized Version.

Unless the context deems otherwise, when I use the terms “men” or “he,” I use them in the general sense of all people regardless of gender.