“Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity…” (Philippians 2:7, CSB)
Paul is describing the incarnation of Jesus. Incarnation literally means “en-fleshment.” John says “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14, NIV)
C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite thinkers, describes the incarnation as “the great miracle” – even more mind-boggling than the resurrection – because of the fact that Jesus left his heavenly glory to serve humanity.
Lewis illustrates it this way: “… one may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanished, rushing down through green and warm water into cold and black water, down through increasing pressure into the death-like region of ooze and slime and old decay, then up again, back to color and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing that he went down to recover.” (C.S. Lewis, Miracles)
Jesus took that dive. He plunged into the mud…a humble manger, suffocated on a cross, and walked out of a closed tomb holding redeemed humanity and nature proudly in his hand. He made the dive for you and me!
We’ll be discussing it this Sunday in our sermon series “Reset.” Please join us!
