“Every time God appeared to somebody in the Bible, they fell down to their knees about to die.”

We serve a God who dwells in unapproachable light. How can a God so majestic interact with humanity?

Bible scholar Ron Rhodes names three things Jesus did to reach us.

He veiled Himself.

The Psalms tells us that God clothed Himself with light, as with clothing; He dwells in unapproachable light.

If Christ came into the world looking like that, all humanity would be dissolved in His light. We would burn up in the face of His holiness and power. Instead He stepped down, set aside His light, and became a Man.

He limited Himself.

“Part of His becoming a man involved veiling His pre-incarnate glory and voluntarily choosing not to use all of His divine attributes on some occasions. The whole condescension of becoming a human being was a great act of humility on His part.”

Our world hails those with power who use their position to advance themselves. We actually expect those with power to use it at the expense of others. Jesus, the King of kings, did the opposite. He leveraged it for our benefit in a way that cost Him everything.

He submitted Himself – even unto death.

“He could have called thousands of angels to His defense instead of going to the cross. But He, as the Creator of the angels, told them to stand down because He was going to go to the cross and die for the sins of humanity.”

How can a Christian conceive of the inestimable condescension and humiliation that Christ voluntarily took upon Himself in the Incarnation unless you first understand from what dazzling heights He came?

That’s when the Incarnation becomes significant. This was the greatest act of humility in the history of the universe.

In the face of His submission, it seems only right that we as Jesus’ followers should step out and do the same. None of us can be as humble as Christ. We don’t step down from glory to love others. But Christ set the example for us. We can step down from our self-righteousness. We can step into a place of discomfort if it means bringing a hot meal to someone. We can ask that struggling neighbor if we can pray for them. We can post a Bible verse on social media if it’s been stirring in our heart, even if it brings questions or hostility.

“Be imitators of Christ” means radical humility. What can that look like in your life?

Key Scriptures: Acts 14:22; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3; Ezekiel 38-39;

Featured Songs: We Will Not Be Shaken by Bethel; Freedom Song by Christy Nockels; On Our Side by Lincoln Brewster

Highlight : The glory Jesus exchanged

Bible answers, hour 2