How wide and long and high
and deep is the love of Christ.
—Ephesians 3:18
It’s hard to imagine that Jesus voluntarily went from being worshipped by angels to sleeping in an animal feeding trough—gave up equality with God to become human (Phil 2:6–7).
At this season, we think about what he did. And I hope we think about why he did it.
He did it because that’s what love does: it puts those who are loved ahead of self-concern. Your place in heaven was more important to Jesus than his place in heaven, so he gave up his so you could have yours. He “loved [you] and gave himself up for [you]” (Eph 5:2).
Can you comprehend that? I confess I can’t. “The love of Christ surpasses knowledge” (Eph 3:19).
But that’s what love does—perfect love, sacrificial love, heavenly love. Think about that when you think of the manger.
The manger is a picture
of unfathomable love.