How is Christmas Fitting?

John Piper:

Sandwiched between Hebrews 2:10 and 2:17 — between the declaration that Christ suffered because it was fitting, and Christ became like us because he was thus obliged to — is the great description of why Christ became human. Hence this is part of the picture of how the incarnation was fitting. Each line of Hebrews 2:14–15 is a different reason for the incarnation — for Christmas.


14a Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, 14b that through death 14c he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14–15).

First, he became human because we are human. God’s great aim is to have a family of human children in which his eternal Son is one of them, yet supreme over them:
◾“Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29)
◾“He had to be made like his brothers in every respect.” (Hebrews 2:17)
◾“That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.” (Hebrews 2:11)

This is fitting — seemly, congruent, beautiful — in God’s eyes.

Second, he became human so that he might die. “He partook of flesh and blood that through death . . .” God, by his very nature, cannot die. But the God-Man, Jesus Christ, could die. Dying was fitting. Therefore, he became human — mortal.

Third, he became human “that (by dying) he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” Not to put the devil out of existence, but to abrogate his ability to make death damning. The devil damns with one weapon: unforgiven sin. If he can accuse us in God’s court successfully and get a guilty verdict, we are damned.

But in the death of Christ, God “cancelled the record of debt that stood against us . . . nailing it to the cross. He thus disarmed the rulers and authorities” — that is, the devil (Colossians 2:14–15). He was disarmed in that the weapon of successful accusation was taken out of his hand. It was gloriously fitting, that he be destroyed in this way.

Hence, the fourth reason the Son of God became human was to “deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Now, when believers look into the dark face of death, they say, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). No more fear. No more bondage. Now. Or ever. Such a life is fearless life fitting for the saints.

You can read the entire post here.

This video is one of John Piper's video labs on Hebrews 2:14-15 which accompanies the post above.