Take a moment and read Matthew 1:18-2:12; Luke 2:1-20; and John 1:1-15.

There are two subjects presented in these verses: the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and His incarnation. The virgin birth is the miraculous act of God whereby Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The incarnation is the divine act of God whereby God in Christ Jesus was revealed to mankind in human flesh.

There are three general titles given to Jesus: 1) Son of David was His Jewish title, 2) Son of God was His divine title, and 3) Son of man was His human title.

As we have just celebrated Christmas, we have focused on the humanity of Christ Jesus, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus came to the earth to identify with us in every area of life. He started out just like we do, as a baby, yet He grew and matured as we do, “He grew in wisdom and stature.” He learned to be obedient to His earthly parents, “And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them.”

Every aspect of humanity that you and I have to deal with Jesus did too. Jesus got tired. When He was with the apostles on a ship, “Jesus was in the back part of the ship asleep.” He would get hungry and thirsty as we do. On one occasion they were on a journey from Bethany, “And the next day, when they left Bethany, He became hungry.” When He met the woman at the well Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” There probably were things that Jesus would have enjoyed having when He was growing up that Joseph was not able to buy for Him. Joseph was a carpenter and was not a wealthy man. During His ministry teaching His apostles to become the person He desired them to be, on one occasion a scribe said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus responded, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Just as you and I are tempted to sin, so was Jesus. He was in the wilderness and Satan tempted Him after Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights.  After refusing to turn stones into bread, He was tempted to test God and tempted to enjoy the riches of the world but Jesus refused them all.

According to the Hebrew writer, “…We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”  No one can look up toward heaven and say, “God, You don’t understand what I am going through.”  Yes, He does. “…God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.”