Stepping Down: The God Who Knows What It's Like
Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 19 December 2025
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Welcome to Day 19.
There is a huge difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is standing on the riverbank and shouting encouragement to someone who is drowning. It is kind, but it is distant. Empathy, on the other hand, is jumping into the freezing water to help them stay afloat. Empathy gets wet. Empathy gets cold. Empathy shares the experience.
Today’s reading from Philippians describes the greatest act of empathy the world has ever seen.
Paul tells us that Jesus, who was by nature God, did not cling to His divine privileges. He did not treat His status as a trophy to be guarded. Instead, He "made himself nothing."
The original Greek word used here is kenosis, which means "to empty." It is a staggering thought. The Creator of the universe emptied Himself of His glory. He swapped the throne of heaven for a cradle of straw. He swapped limitless power for the frailty of a human body.
This means that God knows what it is like to be weak.
When we think of God, we usually think of strength. We think of thunder, mountains, and vast oceans. But the message of Christmas is that God also understands limitation. Jesus knew what it was like to be exhausted after a long day of walking. He knew what it was like to be hungry. He knew what it was like to be misunderstood by His family and betrayed by His friends. He even knew what it was like to bleed.
He didn't just put on a human costume for thirty-three years. He fully entered into our experience. He became one of us.
This is incredibly important for us because we all have days where we feel weak. We have days where our bodies ache, where our emotions are frayed, and where we just feel like we can't cope. In those moments, it is easy to feel like God is disappointed in us. We assume He is looking down from heaven, wondering why we aren't stronger.
But Philippians 2 tells us that He understands. He isn't rolling His eyes at your weakness; He has felt it Himself.
Because He stepped down into our mess, He can comfort us from the inside. When you pray to Jesus, you are not praying to a distant, robotic deity who has no idea what pain feels like. You are praying to a Saviour who has scars. You are praying to a High Priest who is able to empathise with your weaknesses.
So, if you are feeling fragile today, you don't need to pretend to be a superhero. You don't need to put on a mask of strength for God. You can come to Him exactly as you are. He knows the weight you are carrying, and He is with you to help you bear it.
Prayer of the Day:
Lord Jesus, thank You for stepping down from glory to be with us. We are amazed that You didn't cling to Your power but emptied Yourself to become a servant. Thank You that You understand our weakness. When we are tired, overwhelmed, or hurting, help us to remember that You have been there too. We find such comfort in knowing that You understand us completely. Amen.