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CHAT ROOM
INCARNATION
When I say "Christmas," what is the first word that comes to your mind? Parties? Presents? Snow? Incarnation?
Incarnation? It probably isn't the first word that comes to your mind. But when you celebrate Christmas each year, you are actually celebrating the incarnation of Christ.
Jesus is God incarnate, God made into human flesh. Jesus is called "Immanuel," which in Hebrew means "God with us." Jesus inherited his humanity from his earthly mother, Mary. Because she was a virgin, overshadowed by "the power of the Most High" (Luke 1:35), Jesus was born as the Son of God. Jesus inherited God the Father's divinity.
Jesus is fully human. He had a birth, was raised in a family and learned how to be a carpenter. He got hungry, got dirty and went to sleep at night. He felt great love for his friends and great pain when he was betrayed by them. Hebrews 2:18 tells us that Jesus understands and identifies with all of our difficulties in living a life pleasing to God:
"Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
Jesus is fully divine. He is fully God. He never left anyone in doubt about this: "I came from the Father and entered the world" (John 16:28). His purpose on earth was to give his life as a payment for our sins so we could be forgiven. If his life was to be an acceptable payment, it had to be totally free of sin. God knew that no man's life was, or ever would be, free of sin. The oly possible way he could save us was to give his own life.
We can put our full trust in everything Jesus taught or did because we know he is God. We can know and love him personally as our friend and brother because he is a man.
What fantastic news! Have you told anyone lately what the incarnation means to you?
This topic comes from the Youthwalk Devotional Bible
MESSAGES
NEW TO CHRIST?