For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' John 3:16.
Did He give His Son?
God said He did. Do we believe Him?
The fact that God gave His Son is absolutely amazing. In fact, the whole universe is amazed at the marvelous love of God for the human race.
Philippians tells us that Christ "took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men..." Philippians 2:7.
This means He gave up His divine form to take on the human form. Hebrews 10:5-7.
Of course we do not understand how He did this, but He was humble enough to become a member of the human race.
Imagine the One who created human beings becoming one of His creation?
It is sometimes illustrated by saying that it would be like a human being becoming an ant. But this secular illustration is way off the mark, not only that, but the comparison is blasphemous.
When Jesus said, "... God gave His Son..." He knew what it meant.
Before He left heaven, the Son had a glorified form of deity, but when He returned, He had the glorified form of a man.
Imagine the feelings of the Father! It was His sacrifice too.
In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. God the Father gave Him to the fallen race.
Yes, "unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...." Isaiah 9:6. 'Immanuel -- God with us'God created this world (all worlds - Hebrews 1:1.2) by His Son, which means the Son was the active agent in the creation. "He was in the world, and the world was made by him..." John 1:10.
So we are trying to imagine the Creator of the universe becoming one of His creation. The humility is beyond our comprehension.
But more than that, He took human flesh after we had rebelled against Him.
He did not come in perfection as when Adam was created, but four thousand years after sin had wrought havoc on this planet.
God's Son took upon His divinity human flesh, fully man, yet still fully God.
By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God.
When Christ took on the likeness of men, He took it for eternity. He would remain part of the human family forever.
He is our Elder Brother, and is "not ashamed to call us brethren."
Christ glorified is our brother. Hebrews 2:11. (Tense changed)
When He comes again, He will take His brothers and sisters to His home.