Christ's Incarnation: How Low Did He Go?

At Christmas time we remember the good news of the Savior's birth.  He entered the world to bring salvation to men. 

But our appreciation of Christ will be more fully attuned when we remember that His incarnation was anything but glorious. 
The Son of God's entrance into the world was part of his humiliation and thus very "inglorious."  We can only appreciate the work of the Savior when we see his incarnation in this light.    

Consider the depths to which he did descend to bring you salvation:

1.  He left his Father -  Prior to the incarnation the Son dwelt in the bosom of the Father, wherein he enjoyed perfect love, joy, and blessing.  His leaving this sweet realm marks his first step into hell (for hell is separation from God).  What pain it is for us to leave home and part with human parents!  How infinitely greater was the pain of Christ in relinquishing the enchanting place of the Father's presence!  
  
2.  He was born - He who was very God of very God took upon himself the very flesh He did create.  He created man in His own image, but then took the image of man himself.  And while this cannot expressly be said to be part of his 'humiliation" (for he retains his human nature now in his exaltation), it is a superb act of condescension on his part.

3.  He was born into severe conditions - Christ was not only born into abject poverty, but his birth suffered from the further indignities of obscurity and insult.  Bethlehem was little known town, the stable was an undignified place, the manger was, to say the least, crude.  Added is the insult of relatives in Bethlehem who did not show compassion on the poor travelers and expecting mother.

4.  He was utterly dependent - The sovereign Creator, upon whom all creation depends, was himself made dependent upon Mary & Joseph.  He who was used to the service of angels was at the mercy of new parents. 

5.  He suffered the extremities of infancy -  Catholic dogma says that Christ retained the reason of a grown man from infancy.  But this is not true.  He grew in wisdom & stature.  More than that, He suffered from the first hour the new experiences of humanity: hunger, neglect, fatigue, grief, etc.    

6.  His infancy was filled with accentuated agonies -  The conditions surrounding his birth were filled with adversity, adding to his difficulties.  He felt the pricks of hay for bedding, endured the pains of an unhospitable manger, and was threatened with death by Herod. 

7.  He subjected himself to the law - He who was the very Lawgiver, Lord, and Judge put himself under the law.  It was not just to live by it as a rule--for he already did this by nature.  Rather, he came under the curse of it.  He came into this world to fulfill its stipulations for others.  In sum, He was born to die.