Jesus glorified God perfectly.  Yet from His birth to His death at the Cross His life was far from what many of us nowadays would think of as “God glorifying.” 

He was born in an old stable amidst animals.  He was laid in a manger.  When He grew up He hung out with some of the least liked, least respected, worst sinners in town. 

He healed people on the “wrong” days.  When He spoke people sought to lay hold of Him to kill Him.  People talked behind His back—and not just any people: the priests and teachers of the law! 

He was accused publicly of blasphemy.  He was hated, called crazy, tested, and questioned.  He was betrayed by someone within His close circle of friends.  He was arrested as a criminal. 

He was beaten.  He was spit on.  He was nailed to a Cross, raised up for all to see, and then mocked.  He died an excruciating and humiliating death at the hands of earthly authorities.

Yet He glorified the Father perfectly.  From His birth to His death at the Cross His life was exactly what God deems “God glorifying.”  How is this?

When I suffer I sometimes question what God is doing or allowing in my life because it is so very humbling—how will the world see how great He is through such things?  Sometimes I wonder how it could reflect His Heart that I would suffer—how will the world see His Love through such things?  Sometimes I don’t understand why this life is so hard—how will the world know His peace through me?

But then I think on Jesus’ birth.  And I know that God is great.  I look at Jesus’ life and death.  And I know that He loves me.  I touch His scars and remember the Cross.  And I have an eternal peace.  I realize that He turned the most humiliating, most excruciating, most terrible of all injustices for good.  And I know that He has a plan.  A loving, good, beautiful plan.

Instead of an unreachable King I see a Bridegroom.  Instead of a harsh Master I know a best Friend.  Instead of being a lost child I find myself wrapped in the Arms of a Father whose Heart is so big it takes in the whole world. 

All because Jesus truly lived in a way that brought peace to men and glory to God in the highest.

Are we willing to?

May God make us willing.

Copyrighted material, used with permission.