Sunday 15th December 2024
The Word became flesh.
He appeared in the flesh.
John 1:14, 1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
The Mystery of the Incarnation
I have been enjoying reading our church devotional for Advent/Christmas, Sing in Exultation, in which the author Jonathan Landry Cruse helps us to explore some of our favourite carols (and also some less well-known ones, and even a new one) – even if Helen and I are having to share a copy of the book and also the Spotify playlist!
I was particularly struck by the thought that there will always be something about the incarnation – the wonderful truth that in Jesus God became man, that “the Word became flesh – that remains beyond our understanding. How could it be otherwise, when we are talking about the eternal God taking on mortal flesh?
Cruse puts it like this: “How is it that the divine is able to put on humanity, and be both fully God and fully man? Christians have understood that although we cannot ever comprehend how this happened, we must affirm that it happened” (Sing in Exultation, December 11).
He goes on to quote a beautiful observation from St Augustine, which brings out this sense that what we do understand about the incarnation only shows that it lies beyond our comprehension:
“Man’s maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.”
The mystery gives us reason to praise God, and we could do worse than to borrow some words of the apostle Paul with which to praise him:
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! … For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen. (Romans 11:33, 36).
Prayer
Almighty God, I will never fully understand what it means that you became flesh, but I know that it is good, unspeakably good, and that my life, my hope, my salvation, my eternity depends on the fact that you did. Thank you. Praise you. Amen.
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)