Why Would He Come?
by Judi Wheat / Next Gen Early Childhood Curriculum
“Christ Himself was like God in everything... But He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant.” ~Philippians 2:6-7 NCV
The God of the universe, Jesus, was born into poverty of a peasant girl, named Mary. Jesus spent his first night on earth in a cow's feeding trough and visited by "stinky" shepherds. He left the glory of heaven and moved into our world. Have you ever considered why Jesus would come to this earth and do such a thing? Leaving a place that we can only imagine and become a man.
In Max Lucado's, In the Manager, he writes the following:
"Why Would He Come?"
Why? He loves to be with the ones He loves.
Dr. Maxwell Maltz tells a remarkable story of a love like this. A man had been burned and disfigured in a fire while attempting to save his parents from a burning house, but he couldn’t get to them. They perished. He mistakenly interpreted his pain as God’s punishment. The man would not let anyone see him — not even his wife.
She went to Dr. Maltz, a plastic surgeon, for help. He told her not to worry. “I can restore his face.”
The wife was unenthused. Her husband had repeatedly refused any help. She knew he would again.
Then why her visit? “I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him! If I can share his pain, maybe he’ll let me back in his life.”
Dr. Maltz was shocked. He denied her request but was so moved by her love that he went to speak with her husband. Knocking on the man’s bedroom door, he called loudly. “I’m a plastic surgeon, and I can restore your face.” No response. “Please come out.” Again there was no answer.
Still speaking through the door, Dr. Maltz told the man of his wife’s proposal. “She wants me to disfigure her face, to make her face like yours in the hope that you let her back into your life. That’s how much she loves you.”
There was a brief moment of silence, and then, ever so slowly, the doorknob began to turn.
The way the woman felt for her husband is the way God feels about us. But He did more than make the offer. He took on our face, our disfigurement. He became like us. Just look at the places He was willing to go: feed troughs, carpentry shops, badlands, and cemeteries. The places He went to reach us show how far He will go to touch us.
HE LOVES TO BE WITH THE ONES HE LOVES.
.............................................................................................
As I think about what Jesus did for me and mankind, I am so humbled, so thankful, and filled with overwhelming gratitude for His love and desire to be with me and I with Him.
As we enter this Christmas season of waiting, anticipating, preparing, and rejoicing for the coming celebration of the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, take time to become quiet, meditate, pray, and just be with Him.
“Christ Himself was like God in everything... But He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant.” ~Philippians 2:6-7 NCV
The God of the universe, Jesus, was born into poverty of a peasant girl, named Mary. Jesus spent his first night on earth in a cow's feeding trough and visited by "stinky" shepherds. He left the glory of heaven and moved into our world. Have you ever considered why Jesus would come to this earth and do such a thing? Leaving a place that we can only imagine and become a man.
In Max Lucado's, In the Manager, he writes the following:
"Why Would He Come?"Why? He loves to be with the ones He loves.
Dr. Maxwell Maltz tells a remarkable story of a love like this. A man had been burned and disfigured in a fire while attempting to save his parents from a burning house, but he couldn’t get to them. They perished. He mistakenly interpreted his pain as God’s punishment. The man would not let anyone see him — not even his wife.
She went to Dr. Maltz, a plastic surgeon, for help. He told her not to worry. “I can restore his face.”
The wife was unenthused. Her husband had repeatedly refused any help. She knew he would again.
Then why her visit? “I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him! If I can share his pain, maybe he’ll let me back in his life.”
Dr. Maltz was shocked. He denied her request but was so moved by her love that he went to speak with her husband. Knocking on the man’s bedroom door, he called loudly. “I’m a plastic surgeon, and I can restore your face.” No response. “Please come out.” Again there was no answer.
Still speaking through the door, Dr. Maltz told the man of his wife’s proposal. “She wants me to disfigure her face, to make her face like yours in the hope that you let her back into your life. That’s how much she loves you.”
There was a brief moment of silence, and then, ever so slowly, the doorknob began to turn.
The way the woman felt for her husband is the way God feels about us. But He did more than make the offer. He took on our face, our disfigurement. He became like us. Just look at the places He was willing to go: feed troughs, carpentry shops, badlands, and cemeteries. The places He went to reach us show how far He will go to touch us.
HE LOVES TO BE WITH THE ONES HE LOVES.
.............................................................................................
As I think about what Jesus did for me and mankind, I am so humbled, so thankful, and filled with overwhelming gratitude for His love and desire to be with me and I with Him.
As we enter this Christmas season of waiting, anticipating, preparing, and rejoicing for the coming celebration of the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, take time to become quiet, meditate, pray, and just be with Him.