In many ways the Lord Jesus Christ coming to earth in the form of a baby, who grew into a man, really does help us, as it reveals His understanding of our humanity, makes our Saviour easier to access (and perhaps understand), and paints a vivid image of the words of God, when he said He made man in His likeness. Obviously, He did it so that He could be the perfect scapegoat for us, and the sacrificial Lamb who would pay the price for our sins and show the way to the Father. And yet, wrapping Himself in humanity in some ways fools us, or at least allows us to deceive ourselves, from the reality of who He is, God, Lord, and Saviour.
It is easy to forget that the Christ is indeed the ruler of the nations, and indeed all creation, and while at first when He came Jesus seemed less interested in the world, and more about souls, He was very much fulfilling His plan of bringing all into submission to Him. All His enemies, which thankfully means those who also pursue His followers, will be placed under His feet. These include sin, death, wickedness, the wicked, and all kingdoms who oppose Him, or simply believe they rule (including oligarchies, royalties, corporate empires, and the hearts of many). The ancients more easily understood this truth about the Messiah, the King of the Jews, and it was why Herod was rightly fearful of hearing about His arrival. Overtime Christ has been placed in a man-made box, allowing us to believe we are on equal terms with Him, or at least, we are beyond His reach.
King David had the better understanding, stating the temple he planned to build would be the footstool[1] of God, but perhaps his son King Solomon (who actually built it) said it best, when He declared, ‘Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!’. To be certain, He is coming back, and all enemies are under His feet, and this truth will be made manifest to all.
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” (Matthew 2:3-6)
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” (Matthew 22:41-45)
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:29-39)
[1] 1 Chronicles 28:2
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