A Very Difficult Task For The Lord Jesus (Sermon On The Incarnation Of Christ)

When the Lord Jesus went about identifying Himself as INCARNATE SON OF GOD it was a monumental task convincing people THAT HE WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS…. THE SON OF GOD!

We assume today that everybody know that Jesus is the Son of God. Many people in America grew up believing in the deity of Christ, but later renounced their belief in Christ and joined a cult that teaches Christ is no more than an ordinary man.

Let me give you an example.

Illus: The Islamic religion, requires that a person denounce the deity of Christ is sweeping across America.

We once poured millions of dollars into missionary efforts in Islamic countries to spread the gospel of Christ. Today the Islamic countries are pouring in billions of dollars into America to convert Americans to this damnable false teaching of Islam that denies the deity of Christ.

There are many today who do not believe that Christ is the INCARNATE SON OF GOD.

WHAT IS THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST?

INCARNATION OF CHRIST IS A THEOLOGICAL TERM FOR THE COMING OF GOD’S SON INTO THE WORLD AS A HUMAN BEING.

Suppose you were the Son of God, but nobody knew you were GOD IN THE FLESH but now it is time for them to know who you are.

• You look like a man

• You talk like a man

• You walk like a man

• You eat like a man

But you tell people you are man in the flesh, but you are also the INCARNATE SON OF GOD IN THE FLESH!

HOW WOULD PEOPLE REACT TO YOU SAYING THAT?

It would surprise you how many Bible characters in the scriptures that did not FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT CHRIST WAS THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD.

They had some UNDERSTANDING BUT THEY DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND HE WAS THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD.

THIS MAY SURPRISE YOU!!!

I. MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS DID NOT FULLY KNOW HE WAS THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD.

Illus: In the year 1809, the international scene was tumultuous.

Napoleon was sweeping through Austria, and blood was flowing freely.

Nobody then was giving a lot of attention to babies...they were much too engaged in what they considered “more important” matters.

But the world was overlooking some significant births that year.

• William Gladstone was born in 1809. He was destined to become one of England’s finest statesmen.

• That same year Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world.

• Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts that year.

• Not far away, in Boston, Edgar Allen Poe began his eventful life.

• It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin, and his wife named their infant Charles Robert Darwin.

• In that same year, the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky, were heard for the first time. That baby’s name was Abraham Lincoln.

If there had been news broadcasts at that time, you probably would have heard the news anchors tell you that the destiny of the world was being shaped that day in Austria.

Similarly, in the year Jesus made His appearance on the earth in Bethlehem and dwelt among us, everyone back then thought the big news event of the year was taxation.

But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all...the birth of a Savior.

But Mary the mother of Jesus, who was believed to be 16 or 17 years of age DID NOT KNOW FULLY THAT SHE WAS GIVING BIRTH TO THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD IN THE FLESH.

Notice, I said she did not know FULLY!!!

There are two groups that have different opinions whether not Mary FULLY KNEW THAT SHE WAS GIVING BIRHT TO THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD IN THE FLESH.

(1) One group state she did know.

They based their opinion on Luke 2:9-11 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

That sounds very convincing like she knew…doesn’t it?

Especially these words, in verse 11, we read, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Some said she knew because the angel of the Lord spoke these words in this passage to her.

Here is the problem!!!

Using this passage of scripture to support their view the angel was not addressing her. They were spoken by the angel that appeared to the Shepherds in the field.