The Reason for the Season

“He made himself of no reputation

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

and being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:7–8

Each Christmas, we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The “reason for the season” is the birth of Jesus, God taking on human flesh. Yet the significance of this act escapes us. Jesus Christ, Almighty God, humbled himself and took on humanity. Jesus Christ, the sovereign God of eternity, the Creator of the universe, was obedient to his Father. He was born in poverty, lived in loneliness and rejection, and obeyed the Father’s will completely to death. He did not just die of natural causes; no, he died “a cross death”—the ultimate excruciating, humiliating death. He was obedient throughout all of the things he suffered, gaining eternal salvation for us.
How pathetic our behavior at Christmas must seem to him! We rush around busily, full of self, greed, and pride, thinking of no one but ourselves, ignoring others in our hurry—all this to celebrate the supreme act of humility and obedience to God! This Christmas, may the mind of Christ be found in us who bear his name.