God Incarnate

Everyone loves a baby. During the Christmas season, we are especially aware that God sent His Word to us in just such a form.

God sent His Word to Mary through an angel and she responded, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. (Lk. 1:38a RSV) Jesus was conceived when Mary opened her heart to receive.

The sweet baby—God Incarnate—came for the express purpose of wooing and winning sinful people. And God continues to send forth His Word through revelation of the person called Jesus. He waits for our response and He rejoices when His truth and life are conceived in the hearts of people who open their hearts to receive.

Originally published December 18, 1981.

Immanuel . . . God With Us

Few people would say Christianity is an inferior religion. Of all world religions, it alone presents a God who reaches down to provide a way of salvation. Other religions demand sacrifices from their followers. Christians, however, believe Jesus came as God in the flesh to be the sacrifice. The Baby in the manger is unique and worthy of worship because He is Immanuel . . . God with us. (Mt. 1:23b)

So people err when they try to identify Christianity as one of several valid religions. Scripture claims it is exclusive: Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? (I Jn. 2:22a NKJV) Christianity cannot accept the possibility that other religions have vital truth to offer because the other religions have nothing that pays the pentalty for sin. If the beliefs of Christianity are compromised, the teaching is no longer Christian.

Jesus did more than live a good life. He is God. He existed as God before the creation of our world. He came to earth as God in the flesh so He could pay the penalty for our sin. This is the message of Christmas. Immanuel . . . God with us.

Originally published December 9, 1988.

Become Human Again?

Someone once said that God became flesh—came to earth as a baby—so people can truly become human again. That might seem like a strange idea. But because we are sinners, our humanity or human-ness often falls short of what it should be. Jesus came to change that.

Jesus lived His entire life in perfect harmony with Father God the way God intended all people to live. Through His perfect life and His death, Jesus brings us life. When the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, the angel said, And she [ Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. (Mt. 1:21 NKJV)

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we receive a portion of His life—as much of Him as we can accept by faith. Our fallen human nature is always a disappointment. When we look at Him and His life in faith, we reach out to grasp a higher, more complete life ourselves. God’s power in us can overrule our baser instincts. He changes people who follow Him into people who are more fully human.

Originally published December 18, 1992.

The Ultimate Prophet

Jesus was a prophet; He proclaimed Truth and He foretold events. When one of His disciples looked at Jerusalem—and historians say the city, especially the Temple, was beautiful—he couldn’t suppress his excitement.

Jesus was not so excited. He replied, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Mk. 13:1,2 NKJV) We know Jesus wasn’t happy to share this particular knowledge. But the prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed all of Jerusalem—including the temple.

Prophets do two things. First, as seers (see-ers) they perceive or see and they understand things others do not understand. Second, as tell-ers they tell others what they saw if God tells them to share it with others.

Jesus was the ultimate prophet during His earthly ministry. He was the One who saw and understood all things—and He was the One who told or revealed all truth. In fact, Jesus not only understood and proclaimed truth, but He was Truth. As God Incarnate, the Living Word, everything He said and did expressed the nature of His Father.

Originally published January 22, 1988.