Systematic Theology (Vol 2) - Hodge - XLII - Chapter 12 (Humiliation of Christ)

Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 2) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 12 (Humiliation of Christ).

My summary
Today Hodge teaches us about the humiliation of Christ, as demonstrated by:
(i) his incarnation (in a low condition);
(ii) his being made under the Law;
(iii) his sufferings and death;
(iv) his enduring the wrath of God;
(v) his death and burial.

What grabbed me
I liked Hodge's point about Christ's humble birth: 'Not only the assumption of human nature, but also all the circumstances by which it was attended enter into the Scriptural view of the humiliation of our Lord. Had He when He came into the world so manifested his glory, and so exercised his power, as to have coerced all nations to acknowledge Him as their Lord and God, and all kings to bow at his feet and bring Him their tributes, enthroning Him as the rightful and absolute sovereign of the whole earth, it had still been an act of unspeakable condescension for God to become man. But to be a servant ; to be born in a stable and cradled in a manger ; to be so poor as not to have a place where to lay his head; to appear without form or comeliness, so as to be despised and rejected of men, makes the condescension of our Lord to pass all comprehension. There is, indeed, a wonderful sublimity in this. It shows the utter worthlessness of earthly pomp and splendour in the sight of God. The manifestation of God in the form of a servant, has far more power not only over the imagination but also over the heart, than his appearing in the form of an earthly king clothed in purple and crowned with gold. We bow at the feet of the poor despised Galilean with profounder reverence and love than we could experience had He appeared as Solomon in all his glory.'

The reverence we have for Christ should be all the more fervent because of his humble birth.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 13 (The exaltation of Christ).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.