Awed afresh by the Incarnation

Once again this Christmas I am amazed by the incarnation.  More than any other doctrine or event in history, I find this one event to be the greatest.   Jesus' death and resurrection (Easter) are up there, too, for sure. But just think about this event we are celebrating.  The incarnation is like the ultimate plot twist in an already enthralling super-novel.  God becoming a man? The Son of God embracing human form? That is something in my psyche and intellect that is so unexpected and paradigm shifting.   

The complete awe of this event is not associated with its show of power.  Indeed, the awe is produced by the incredible yielding of power.  Infinite God willingly assumed a form that was finite.  The Creator--the Word of God Himself through whom the earth was spoken into existence--inhabited human form and experienced His very own creation in like manner as the creation!  There is no comparison.  There was never an event like this and there will never be an event comparable.

In this one act, Jesus also demonstrated the inestimable worth of humandkind.  We humans, we share traits with other animals, yes.  Yet the Son of God, pure Spirit, esteemed human form as as worthy of Himself.   The Bible says He "became flesh".   He assumed, not temporarily, but for all time a human form.  How mind boggling!  We truly are made "in the image of God" if the divine Son of God Himself could become one of us.  He thinks that much of our race, wow!   

The incarnation is logically unexpected and in some ways intellectually incomprehensible. Yet its implications are philosophically astounding, emotionally overwhelming, and full of spiritual mystery.  In the wake of the incarnation's paradoxical demonstration of power comes a deeper revelation and understanding of both the divine nature and human nature. Unbelievable!


Truly we stand in awe of you: Jesus, the God-man.   You have demonstrated to us that the greatest power is shown through meekness and humility.  You have show us in your action of incarnation how valuable all people actually are in your sight.  Guide our worship of you this Christmas to be full of the reverent awe you deserve. Amen.

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 was not any thing made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:1-3,14 ESV)