We believe in miracles!

‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth’ (John 1:14)

Once again this Christmas, we are celebrating the ‘incarnation’, the moment God entered into his time-space world and became flesh. That is, Jesus was perfect humanity and undiminished deity united in one person forever. He became Man. He didn’t simply appear to be a man. He actually became one of us. That’s why we sing praises to the incarnate God, who was, in the words of a Christmas carol ‘pleased as Man with men to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel’. The incarnation is unique. It is unparalleled. It had never happened before. It has never happened since. It will never happen again. It is the central event of human history. God did not simply reveal Himself; He wrapped Himself in humanity forever and ever.  Here are a few implications of the ‘incarnation’ to ponder this Christmas:

We believe in miracles! The Bible itself calls it a mystery! ‘Great is the mystery of godliness: ?God was manifested in flesh…?” (1 Tim 3:16)  Martin Luther, who rarely admitted to being ignorant about anything, once wrote, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”

God cares for humanity! That great step for reconciliation has at last been taken, as God graciously took up residence in the body of a human being and then accomplished redemption by dying on the cross. Only God could restore what we humans broke – but God cares enough to graciously step in!

Jesus is incomparable! John describes him as ‘the One and only’ or ‘only begotten’. He is full of grace, that is undeserved favour. And full of truth; so Jesus stood for God’s truth in all its beauty and demands! He didn’t abolish it, but delighted in it. No other leader of any world religion claims to be God incarnate!

God reveals how people come to know him! As God ‘dwells’ with his people (literally ‘tabernacles’ with them), he reveals how we have access to him as our Father. There is no other way.  Jesus is the way!

Jesus understands our weaknesses! Hebrews 4:15 captures this well! ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin’

God models to us how to live! Philippians 2:5-11 reminds us that our attitude should be same as that of Christ Jesus – humble, obedient servants of God!

One of the early church fathers, Augustine of Hippo, expressed it well. “The Maker of man became man that He, Ruler of the stars, might be nourished at the breast; that He, the Bread, might be hungry; that He, the Fountain, might thirst; that He, the Light, might sleep; that He, the Way, might be wearied by the journey; that He, the Truth, might be accused by false witnesses; that He, the Judge of the living and the dead, might be brought to trial by a mortal judge; that He, Justice, might be condemned by the unjust; that He, Discipline, might be scourged with whips; that He, the Foundation, might be suspended upon a cross; that Courage might be weakened; that Security might be wounded; that Life might die. To endure these and similar indignities for us, to free us, unworthy creatures, He who existed as the Son of God before all ages, without a beginning, deigned to become the Son of Man in these recent years. He did this although He who submitted to such great evils for our sake had done no evil and although we, who were the recipients of so much good at His hands, had done nothing to merit these benefits.”

This Christmas time, I pray you will reflect on the wonder of the incarnation, express your gratitude & delight (to God and to others), show real kindness to others, and take every opportunity to explain the miracle of God becoming flesh. He is ‘Emmanuel – God with us’. He is Jesus for ‘he will save his people from their sins’

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and New Year

Paul Dale
Senior Pastor