Every December we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. We sing songs about angels, wise men, shepherds, and a hay-filled manger. I have written other articles addressing who Jesus is, what the facts are surrounding his birth, when He was born, where He was born, and how His birth was announced to others. But what about why? Not why did Jesus have to offer Himself as a sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of mankind. We know that a perfect sacrifice without blemish or spot was required to bring us back into a right standing with God, and Jesus was the only one able to accomplish this. Rather, why did God Himself have to come to this world as a baby? Why was a human being necessary to redeem mankind at all?
Jesus said to him, "... The one who has seen me has seen the Father … The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. John 14:9-11
"I and the Father are one." John 10:30
Jesus and God the Father are one. Jesus is fully God, but, and this can be confusing to some, He is also fully man. The Baptist statement of beliefs words it like this: “He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man.” In theological terms, this is known as the “Hypostatic Union.” “Hypostatic” comes from the Greek word hypostasis (hypo means under or base, and stasis means substance) which has the end meaning of “base substance.” “Hypostatic Union” therefore refers to Jesus’ two opposing characteristics as fully God and fully man existing in one base substance, the person of Jesus Christ.
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death -- even to death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
God came to this earth in the form of a human to become our perfect sacrifice for sin. God had to come as a baby, in the likeness of humanity itself, with all of our weaknesses and frailty. God did so because sin demanded a perfect sacrifice in order to bring us back into a right relationship with God. A covering for our sins by a perfect sacrifice, because none of us could be perfect. This act brought us the opportunity to be back in communion with God. But the perfect sacrifice had to be human…it could not be anything more, or anything less. God had to become fully human, and to do that, He had to come as an infant child.
For verily he took not on Him the nature of angels; but he took on Him the seed of Abraham. Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:16-18
God came to this earth in the form of a human to become our High Priest. The High Priest served in the temple of God and came into God’s presence to present the blood of the sacrifice, the blood of the perfect lamb, to offer to God in order to obtain forgiveness of their sins. The High Priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat, a propitiation for the sins of the people. Jesus as High Priest, can act on behalf of us because He is one of us. He represents us to God, and God to us in return. Jesus was not only the perfect sacrifice, but also the High Priest who presented the sacrificial blood to God as a covering for our sins.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6
God came to this earth in the form of a human to become our mediator. God came as a human in the form of Jesus so that there would be a mediator between humans and God. A mediator is someone who acts as a go between and represents one party to another when both participants are in opposition to each other. Humanity is in conflict with God…we are in a state of sin and separation from Him. God provided a mediator who could represent mankind, one that was fully human, and a mediator that could be in the presence of God, one that was fully God as well. This mediator, Jesus Christ, works to end the conflict between God and mankind by communicating the blood of the perfect sacrifice, presented by the High Priest, to God Himself. I Peter 2:5 says “Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” Jesus, God came to Earth in human form, acts as our mediator to bring salvation to all mankind, for those who accept His perfect sacrifice and believe in Him.
God came to this earth in the form of a human, even as a tiny baby in a manger, in order to act as our perfect sacrificial lamb, as our High Priest, and as our Mediator to God. He did this to allow us to once again come into His presence and be with Him.
