The Incarnation / Week 51 – December 18th

by admin

                                                                The Third Week Of Advent 2016

 

                                                “And without controversy great is the mystery

                                                 Of Godliness:

                                                                God was manifested in the flesh,

                                                                Justified in the Spirit,

                                                                Seen by angels,

                                                                Preached among the Gentiles,

                                                                Believed on in the world,

                                                                Received up in glory.”

                                                                                                                1Timothy 3:16

 

The greatest event of all time was The Day when God became man and dwelt among us. This Day altered our world forever and that of the destiny of every human being whether they acknowledge it or not. There is of course great mystery to the incarnation but the facts of history confirm it. Therefore:

1. 1. The Incarnation punctuates history.

A decree went out from Caesar Augustus requiring all people in the empire to be registered. (Luke2:1) This was the law that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the rest is indeed history. From that time to the present the world generally orders its affairs according to the birth of the Son of God. This alone is amazing!

2. 2. The Incarnation unveils the nature and character of God.

John declares that no one has seen God at any time but the, “the only begotten God in the bosom of the Father has declared Him.”(John1: 18) Jesus is nothing short of God in the flesh and He clearly affirmed this especially when He addressed the doubts and misgivings of His followers. For in John 14 and verse 9, in response to a question from His Disciples asking Him to show them the Father, He said, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me…” Not only is Jesus a godman but He is also The Creator!

                “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,

                                 and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

                                 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing

                                 was made that was made. In Him is life, and the life was the

                                 light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the

                                 darkness did not comprehend it.”

                                                                                                John 1:1-3

(Note also: Colossians1: 16-18; Hebrews1: 1-3)

All of this is quite literally mind blowing but true!

3. The Incarnation has purpose.

This purpose may be summed up in three ways: Firstly; to satisfy the demands of God’s character by the cross. (Hebrews2: 14-18) Secondly; to defeat the powers of darkness and sin who dominate our lives by the cross. (Hebrews 2:14) And, thirdly; to reconcile us to His Father by the cross. (Hebrews2:8-10)

Thanks be to God for His wonderful gift!

4. The Incarnation is instructive.

That Jesus left the glory and splendor of Heaven to become man and dwell among us, as a servant in this veil of sorrow is amazing.  This truth should challenge us, by His grace, to walk in the same love and humility. He had status and gave it away in order to serve us! (Mark10: 45) We, because of sin, have no status but we falsely seek it and claim it in our pride and arrogance. We too often have forgotten His incredible example by the incarnation. (Philippians2:5-11)

Who will be like Jesus? This Christmas let us think on these things, share them with our friends and family and praise God for them. Merry Christmas!

 

Malcolm and Cheryl Hedding.

 

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