A Divine Departure

When we think of Christmas, we think of the arrival of Jesus: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). In reality, it was also a departure. For us, a Child was born. But for God the Father, a Son was given.

In Heaven, the time had come for the departure of God’s Son. We even have a record of Jesus’ farewell words to the Father. He said, ” ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, “Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do Your will, O God” ‘ ” (Hebrews 10:5–7).

Jesus literally went from the throne of Heaven to a feeding trough. He went from the presence of angels to a stable of animals. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. Scripture sums it up well: “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . .” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

No one who has ever lived has even remotely affected human history the way Jesus Christ has. He has been opposed, censored, banned, and criticized by every generation since His birth. Yet His influence continues unabated.

There has never been anyone like Jesus, because Jesus was not just a good man. He was the God-man who came and walked this earth. And that is what we should celebrate every day.