Jesus Is Not a Manageable Deity

Babies are cute. No one would ever deny that. And the earth-shattering, mind-blowing truth is that God, the One who created everything, became human—the Creator willingly became a part of his creation—in the form of a defenseless (and probably cute) baby. For how little is written in the New Testament about Jesus being a baby, there’s so much that people believe.

The New Testament’s focus is not on the birth of Jesus, but on his purpose for being born: his death on the cross. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13–14).

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. . . . Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:14–15, 17).

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” (Colossians 1:21–22). “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6 NASB).

Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16 / 1 Timothy 6:15). “For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:11–12).

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).

I pray our fascination with the baby Jesus doesn’t remain infantile (see 1Corinthians 3:1–4 / Ephesians 4:11–16). I pray our faith grows through our love for him and his word (John 15:4, 7–8 / Romans 10:17 / Colossians 3:16).