An Exalted Emptiness

Rather than escape it, Jesus accepted the emptiness of human life. In a mystery easy to verbalize but impossible to fathom, the Son of God became one of us. To do so, He relinquished His divine glory. He emptied Himself.

There was no other way for Christ to become human. Is this what it means to be human? Empty?

What do we do with our hollowness? Our hearts are hungry; they yearn for ill-defined nourishment. And every attempt at satisfaction fails. We start with a void; we’re left with naught.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.” – Job 1:21a

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” – 1 Timothy 6:7

So we lash out; transgressing and blaming others for our predicament. They, of course, return the favor. And the rhythm repeats as the world sinks deeper into frustration and pain.

“Every sin is an attempt to fly from emptiness.” – Simone Weil

Jesus breaks the cycle by entering into our circumstances as one of us. He knows our lack because He laid aside the indescribable–divine glory.

Does emptiness define what it means to be human? Yes, but not by design.

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God Himself.” – Blaise Pascal

If we find fulfillment in God, we must thank Jesus who held back nothing.

He let go of equality with God to become human.

He took the lowest form of a human being–a servant.

He served until it killed Him.

Thank Jesus, but we must also prepare ourselves to follow His example.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:5-11

On Good Friday, remember His poured out life; on Easter Sunday, rejoice in the resurrection of Christ! Honor the One who emptied Himself for us, for you.