Rediscovering the Wonder of the Incarnation
Theme: The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, revealing God’s love, purpose, and plan for salvation.
Key Scripture: John 1:14 – “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
Introduction
Christmas is a season where we celebrate the birth of Jesus. But sometimes, amidst the busyness of gifts, decorations, and gatherings, we lose sight of the profound mystery of the incarnation—God becoming man. Today, we will rediscover the incarnation and its life-changing implications.
We’ll explore three key truths about the incarnation:
The Word Became Flesh.
God Dwelt Among Us.
The Glory Revealed in Jesus.
1. The Word Became Flesh
Let’s begin with John 1:14: “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
The Word (Logos in Greek) refers to Jesus, the eternal Son of God. John starts his Gospel with:
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
This tells us that Jesus is co-eternal with the Father. He is not a created being but God Himself. The Word “becoming flesh” (Greek: sarx) means that Jesus took on human nature, entering our broken world without ceasing to be divine.
Philippians 2:6-7 explains it further: “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”
Think of a king who leaves his palace to live among the poorest of his people. Jesus left the splendour of heaven to walk among us, experience our pain, and bring us hope.
Max Lucado writes, “The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo.”
Reflect on the humility of Jesus. He became one of us to save us.
In your daily life, follow His example of humility and love.
2. God Dwelt Among Us
John 1:14 continues: “So the Word became human and made his home among us.”
The phrase “made his home among us” can be translated as “tabernacled among us.” This echoes the Old Testament when God’s presence dwelled in the Tabernacle. Exodus 25:8 says, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.”
But now, through Jesus, God’s presence is no longer confined to a structure. Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
Colossians 1:19 declares: “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.”
Imagine being in a dark room, and someone lights a candle. The darkness flees. That’s what Jesus did when He stepped into the darkness of our world.
John Stott wrote, “In Jesus of Nazareth, divine revelation is personal, historical, visible, audible, and tangible.”
Jesus dwells with us today through the Holy Spirit. Are you making room for Him in your life?
In your struggles, remember that God is with you. He understands and walks beside you.
3. The Glory Revealed in Jesus
The verse concludes: “He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
The “glory” of Jesus is the revelation of God’s character and presence. In the Old Testament, God’s glory was often revealed in dramatic ways—like the cloud on Mount Sinai. But in Jesus, God’s glory is revealed in His unfailing love (charis) and faithfulness (aletheia).
Hebrews 1:3 tells us: “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.”
Imagine trying to understand the sun by looking at a reflection in a mirror. Jesus is not a reflection—He is the radiance of God, the full expression of who God is.
J.I. Packer wrote, “God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby… The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets.”
Application:
Have you seen His glory in your life?
Allow His love and faithfulness to transform your relationships and priorities.
Conclusion and Call to Action:
The incarnation is not just a historical event; it’s a divine invitation. God became one of us so that we could know Him, love Him, and be restored to Him.
Encouragement:
Rediscover the wonder of the incarnation.
Share this truth with others—it’s the heart of the Gospel.
Invitation to Faith:
If you’ve never placed your trust in Jesus, let today be the day. He came to bring you hope, peace, and eternal life.
Let’s pray together.
