The Incarnation

"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.” The Gospel of John 1:14 ESV

At this time of the year, our thoughts turn to the baby in the manger in Bethlehem. What we do not usually stop and think about is the fact that the King of the Universe became a man--the second Adam.

He lived a sinless life, perfectly kept the Law of Moses, and died on the cross at Calvary as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of all of those who place their faith in Him. He was raised from the dead for our justification. He now sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven as our high priest and intercessor. And He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead.

The gift that we should treasure is that God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son to come to this world in a tabernacle of human flesh to live among us and to die and shed His precious blood for our sins.

As the church leaders wrote at the Council of Chalcedon:

“We confess, therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, perfect God, and perfect Man of a reasonable soul and flesh consisting; begotten before the ages of the Father according to his Divinity, and in the last days, for us and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin according to his humanity, of the same substance with his Father according to his Divinity, and of the same substance with us according to his humanity; for there became a union of two natures. Wherefore we confess one Christ, one Son, one Lord.”

Let us not forget that we are celebrating the advent of the Alpha and the Omega and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!

-- Tony Thomas

“If Christ be glorious, it is all the heaven I ask for. If he shall be King of kings, and Lord of lords, let me be nothing, if he shall but reign, and every tongue shall call him blessed, it shall be bliss to me to know it; and if I may be but as one of the withered roses which lie in the path of his triumph, it shall be my paradise.”

-- Charles Haddon Spurgeon