Why Did God Become Human?

Have you ever wondered why God would become human, in the form of a little child, born in a backwoods town in a humble place, to a simple couple? All these things were revealed by the prophets to the Jews hundreds of years before Jesus was born (e.g. Isaiah 7:14 & Micah 5:2). Also, God, the creator of the universe, needed a way to communicate to His creation, you and I, in a way we could understand without being terrified or overwhelmed.

Soren Kierkegaard, the great Danish theologian told this story as an explanation of why God would humble himself for us. He writes, “A prince wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand in the local village for his father he passed through a poor section. As he glanced out the windows of the carriage his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. During the ensuing days he often passed by the young lady and soon fell in love. But he had a problem. How would he seek her hand?

He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this he would never be certain that the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all of the splendor.

The prince came up with another solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved, into the village, entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time the maiden grew to love him for who he was and because he had first loved her.”

I think the greatest proof that Jesus is who he says he is, and is God’s fulfillment of the prophetic proclamation of a coming messiah is the impact Jesus has on people. This Christmas story has always been one of my favorites. Two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on Biblical principles) in the public schools, prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage.

At the orphanage they told the orphans about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem and finding no room in the inn. The couple went to a stable, where Jesus was born, and placed in the manger. The children loved the story. As a follow-up activity, each child was given simple materials to make a manager, paper straw, a blanket, and a felt baby. The most unique project was six year-old Misha’s manger. It had two babies in the manger. Misha explained Jesus’ birth story very accurately, but then began to ad-lib. He made up his own ending saying, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no momma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.

So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?” And Jesus told me, “If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me. So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him – for always.” As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon or abuse him, someone who would stay with him – FOR ALWAYS!”

I love this story because it reminds me that whenever we let Jesus in our lives it changes everything. Did your faith grow over the Christmas holidays? If so, are you doing anything to help keep it strong? If not, ask God to show you His love and mercy, and be open to God’s wonderful action in your life.