The Highest Compliment

I just had an epiphany while I was on the treadmill at the gym...Jesus had a body.

Jesus had a body.

Jesus had a body.

I can't even stop writing that. Jesus, God Himself, had a body, a human flesh of His own. That's astounding to me this evening. I've always viewed my body the way Paul puts it: "I beat my body and make it my slave..." I've always viewed my body as something evil, a necessary evil at that. If my body gives me value in this culture, then it better be good enough. Well, I've never felt like it had value. My body is my enemy; something to tolerate until it dies. My body is something I can't escape and it's never good enough.

But...

Jesus had a body.

God Himself chose to put on flesh. That is the highest compliment to the human carnality. God Himself chose to put on flesh. Jesus had a body. He chose to be contained within the space and time of human flesh.

If I claim to have a higher view of Deity incarnated, then I am required to have the same high view of my body. My view of Jesus and my view of my own body are not consistent if I view my body as the enemy. It would be to say Jesus made a stupid decision. I walk a dangerous ground.

Jesus had a body.

How now, Lord, should I live?