| He had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. |
| —Hebrews 2:17 |
The birth of Jesus, the Son of God, marks the end of the church year with a celebration of glad tidings and great joy. Sadly, more and more this event has become so secularized that it is very possible for us to move through this season and never think, even once, about the miracle of thr Incarnation: “God with us.”
For many people, the story of Jesus is viewed as a fable. Unfortunately, they don’t think of Him as a real person—someone who needed to eat and drink and function in every way as you and I do each day. But, Jesus was fully human, while, at the same time, He was fully God. That is the genuine miracle of the Incarnation.
The writer to Jews who had embraced the gospel, in the years immediately following Jesus’ death, expressed it this way in Hebrews 2:17:
He had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Had Jesus not been both fully human and fully God, He could not have been the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty, make atonement, provide the propitiation for our sins.
As we begin a new day during the Season of Advent, let’s ponder the wonder of this great miracle. We celebrate the birth of our Savior and we celebrate our expectant hope of His soon return. This God-man Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and King. But, He is also our brother, our companion, and our friend.
