The Miracle of Jesus's Incarnation and What it Means for Us
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“The incarnation brings unceasing hope and an end to our exile, wandering, and despair. There is great comfort for our souls in the truth that he is just like us. Here’s why: the incarnation tells us that even though we sin, we are not alone; even though we’re weak and finite, he knows what weakness and mortality are because he was weak and mortal just like us; and even though we continually fail, he has committed himself to be part of a race of failures- and he has done so forever.”
-Elyse Fitzpatrick, Found in Him
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Incarnation means God became a man. Jesus is both fully God, and fully human. It’s a concept full of mystery. What does it mean for us? It means He is one of us. Jesus experienced temptation but did not sin. He knows what it means to live a life of faith and obedience. He did not use his divine powers to live a perfect and holy life on earth. He set them aside. The law demanded that a man must obey. He resisted every temptation, in love for us, so that He could rescue us from death, once and for all. If Jesus had sinned even once, his death would not have qualified as a means to save us. It would have been the just punishment for His sin. He lived a life that was holy, sinless, and His death served as the final sacrifice, a sanctifying means, which brings all who believe in Him into union with His Father. His holiness and perfection becomes ours. This is truly amazing. This is grace.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
Satan, whose name means accuser, doesn’t want us to understand this. He was crushed and defeated by Jesus when Jesus obeyed in our place. Yet he continually accuses us, lies to us, tempting us to believe that we need something outside of what Christ has already done for us. “It is finished” (John 18:30) means that there is nothing more that needs to be accomplished. Our debt is paid in full, through Jesus.
Anything we do from this side of the cross on, our obedience, should not come from a desire to earn favor with God. We already have it. When we truly understand the grace of God, our obedience becomes an act of worship, to bring Him glory. It comes from a place of love, not an attempt to earn our way.
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. Hebrews 2:10
I’m so thankful that I serve a God who is able to sympathize with me in my weakness. Jesus understands. He is like a big brother that I can look to, who will never let me down, who can show me the way I need to go. In Jesus, I have everything I need. He’s all that anyone needs. All those who simply call on the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, will find freedom from sin and salvation. It’s a gift. It's grace that's available to all, because of God’s great love.
Maybe you're someone who has already accepted Christ's work on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Are you living in light of this? Are you still trying to earn favor with God? You already have it.
