The WESTMINSTER LARGER Catechism

WLC 47. How did Christ humble Himself in His conception and birth?

A. Christ humbled Himself in His conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in the bosom of the Father, He was pleased in the fullness of time to become the son of man, made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her; with divers circumstances of more than ordinary abasement.1

Proofs

1Jn 1:14, 18; Gal 4:4; Lk 2:7

We have seen how Christ was "from all eternity the Son of God, in the bosom of the Father" (cf. Jn 1:1, 18). As the second Person of the Triune Godhead, He is equal in power and glory with the Father, and enjoyed heavenly glory from all eternity.

But in the fullness of time, that is at the time appointed by God, Christ condescended to "become the son of man" by taking on human flesh. Our catechism teaches us that "He was pleased" to do so, indicating that He came willingly, and under no compulsion at all.

Could Christ have taken on human flesh by taking on a temporary body like the way He did in His pre-incarnational appearances (e.g. Gen 18:2)? Or by creating out of nothing a full grown body? Well, conceivably that is possible, but in that case Christ would not truly be the son of man. He would have a similar nature to man, but not be of the same nature. Man’s nature is different from that of angels. Angels were created individually, but not man. God has made man "of one blood" (Acts 17:26). Man must share the same nature by way of propagation. The only way that Christ can be a true man is to be conceived in the womb and born as man.

Therefore, Christ humbled Himself to take on human flesh in this way.

And not only so, but He condescended to be "made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her." Mary’s poverty can be seen by how she could only afford a pair of turtledoves for her purification after giving birth to the Lord (cf. Lk 2:24).

Furthermore, the circumstance of the Lord’s birth was particularly humbling, for by the providence of God, Mary and Joseph had to leave their home in Nazareth to go to Bethlehem to be registered for the census of Ceasar Augustus (Lk 2:1-4). But because there was no room in the inn in Bethlehem, they had to stay in an animal stall. Mary gave birth to our Lord in this humbling condition, and laid him on a manger (Lk 2:7).

Why did the Lord of glory have to suffer all these? No doubt that the grace, love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ for us poor miserable sinners, may be the more sharply brought out to us. For says the apostle Paul:

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2Cor 8:9).

If Christ humbled Himself for us, how can any of us remain proud?