The Greatest Mystery of All - The Incarnation

We are now a few days into the Advent Season, a joyous time in which we remember the birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Christmas is a time filled with the mystery of that event we call The Incarnation.  Now that word is derived from two Latin words: "in" - a preposition meaning "in", and "carnis" - a noun meaning "flesh."  Thus, "incarnation" means "the endowment with a human body; appearance in human form"  or simply put "in flesh."

There are two strong biblical passages that teach the doctrine of the Incarnation without using that term.  These passages are so familiar to many of us, yet, for me, they are shrouded with a deep mystery - a mystery that, I believe, will not be resolved through all of eternity.  And, what is that mystery, you are asking?  It is how God became a man!  Yet it is even deeper than that, for in both the Roman and Greek worlds, their gods and goddesses often appeared to be human, although they never took on a human body.  The deeper mystery is that God became a baby!  Thank about a baby for a moment.  A baby is completely helpless.  A baby can do nothing for himself or herself.  A baby is dependent upon someone to feed him or her.  A baby is dependent upon someone to protect him or her.  A baby is unable to communicate clearly his or her desires with those around.  A baby needs guidance and discipline as he or she grows.  A baby needs to have his or her mind trained and educated. 

And that is what Almighty God became - a baby!  The One who holds the world in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 40:12) was Himself lovingly held in the arms of Joseph.  The One whose claim is that "nothing is too difficult for Him" (Luke 1:37), became One who could do nothing for Himself.  The One who provides food for the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26), was nursed at the breast of His mother, Mary.  The One whom King Solomon proclaimed that even the highest heavens could not contain Him (2 Chronicles 6:18), was gently laid in a manger.  Friends, God became a baby!  Even Mary, when told that she would be the mother of Jesus, exclaimed to the angel Gabriel, "How will this be?" (Luke 1:34).  Mary did not question the proclamation; she questioned the process.  How would the infinite God become a child within her womb? 

Friends, let us not forget this Christmas Season that wonderful, incomprehensible mystery we know as the Incarnation.  I would encourage you to re-read once again those two powerful passages: John 1:14 - "The Word (that is Jesus Christ, the Eternal Logos) became flesh (He became a baby!) and lived for a while among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth," and Philippians 2:6-8 - "Who, being in very nature God (He and the Father were one!), did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (He became a baby!).  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (that was the reason why He came!)" 

Oh what a glorious mystery!  Let's proclaim it this Advent Season with passion and joy!