Wonder of Wonders: The Incarnation
December 13, 2024 4:18 pm gospel, incarnation, Jesus ChristWonder is the inquisitive pursuit of an understanding of all of the perfections of the excellent majesty of God. To know God is the greatest quest of the human mind. To know God is to have everlasting life (I John 5:20). We must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Without this knowledge of the Holy and faith in Him, we will never see God.
The Wonder of Wonders is the incarnation. In John 1:14, God’s Word declares, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” The eternal Word becomes a human being and dwells among men. His glory is manifested as He makes God known to us. The only begotten Son, a reference to His becoming flesh and taking on the form of a servant (Phil. 2:5-11). Fully God and fully man in one person–Jesus, the Christ. Full of grace and truth, which grace is God’s undefeatable, benevolent, goodwill and truth which is reality as God Himself defines reality revealed in His holy Word (II Tim. 3:16,17). This is a mystery revealed, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (I Tim. 3:16).
Revelation of the Wonder
The foreknowledge of God is on display in the prophetic statements made in the Law and the Prophets concerning Jesus Christ. The Second Person of the Godhead: The Eternal Word pre-existed the human form of Jesus of Nazareth. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1). God foreknew and He foretold through the prophets that the Messiah would come through the “seed of woman” (Gen. 3:15), the “seed of Abraham” (Gen. 22:18); and the “seed of David” (II Sam. 7:11-13). Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Peter writes, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (I Pet. 1:20). Peter also writes, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into” (I Pet. 1:9-12). The gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16) is the message of salvation that is accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord. This message reveals the mystery of godliness to us. It reveals the birth, life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and savior. The “seed” promise was ultimate fulfilled in the person of Jesus (Gal. 3:16). This reality is prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This prophecy was fulfilled in the virgin birth of Jesus. The angel Gabriel explained to Mary, the mother of the Lord, just how the conception would occur, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary by the miraculous power of God who can do all things (Matthew 19:26). Matthew records the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23). God foreknew and He foretold and then, by His power, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah (Luke 2:1-14). Jesus is the savior of the world (John 4:42, I John 4:14).
Reality of the Wonder
Mary would give birth to the Messiah (Luke 1:26-35). Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. He is the Son of God. God’s power to perform wonders brought about the wonder of wonders–the birth of Jesus, the Christ. The word incarnation is derived from the Latin language and means, “to take on flesh,” or “embodiment of flesh.” The incarnation is the gracious, voluntary act of the Eternal Word in assuming a human body and human nature along with maintaining His glorious divine nature. Jesus is fully human and fully deity. These two natures are indissolubly united in one person– Jesus of Nazareth. Paul describes this truth, “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). Paul also writes, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:6-8). God’s Word declares, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste of death for every man” (Heb. 2:9). The incarnation was necessary in order for the Son of God to die and secure our redemption. The reality of our salvation and hope lies in the historical reality of the incarnation.
Proclamation of the Wonder
Paul states, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Cor. 2:2). “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (I Cor. 1:23-25). Paul preached the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16) to the saving of the souls of men and women. Salvation from sin involves a purchase price. The purchase price involved in our redemption is the blood of Jesus, the Christ. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Pet. 1:18-19). Jesus’ blood is the only means of remission (forgiveness). “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22). “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14). Not only do we preach redemption and remission of sins through Jesus, but, we preach reconciliation to God. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (II Cor. 5:17-19). Jesus makes oneness with God possible. He is the preeminent peacemaker. The message preached is one of redemption, remission of sins, and reconciliation to God thus bringing forgiveness, peace and sonship to the world.
The incarnation of Christ is a one-time historical event –wrought by the power of God; involving a one-time historical person–Jesus, the Christ; having a one-time historical result–the salvation of the people of the world. This is the mystery of godliness revealed and proclaimed through the gospel of Jesus Christ.