For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:9
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It is a riches to rags story. Jesus willingly exchanged all the wealth of His deity for the poverty of His humanity when He took on flesh and came to dwell on earth. Not to a palace, but to a manger. Not to comfort, but to suffering. Not to glory, but to shame. Not to a throne, but to a cross. He left a place where He was worshipped and obeyed to come a place where He would be rejected and killed. Why? It wasn’t because heaven was empty and God was lonely. It wasn’t because God was needy for us to join Him, but rather we were needy for Him to join us. The Bible says He did this “for your sake.” Let that sink in. For. Your. Sake. You couldn’t get to God, so He came to get you. You couldn’t live up to God’s standards, so Jesus lived perfectly for you. You couldn’t break free from sin, so He set you free. You couldn’t atone for your transgressions, so Jesus died in your place. You couldn’t defeat death, so He conquered the grave so you too will rise. You couldn’t earn an eternal retirement, so He paid for your inheritance. You have become rich in salvation, forgiveness, joy, peace, glory, kindness, favor, righteousness and love because of the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Everything good in your life and everything bad that is turned around for good was purchased for you through the finished work of Jesus. And long before it was finished at Calvary, it was started in Bethlehem. For your sake.
