Dec
14
2009
Unlocking the Bible: Incarnation (Luke 1:35)
[Editor's Note: Pastor Colin Smith continues his Christmas season devotional to help you reflect on Jesus’ glory by taking a broad look at all that God has promised and accomplished in Him. The readings follow the pattern of his current sermon series, “The Plan: God’s Design For the Universe and Your Place In It.” You can read, hear or watch these sermons as they are posted at Unlocking the Bible.]
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The New Testament affirms three central truths about our Lord Jesus Christ: That He is God, He is man, and He is holy.
The angel announced to Mary that Jesus would be “The Son of the Most High,” and “The Son of God” (Luke 1:32, 35). Matthew records that He is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). John describes Him as the Speech of God who became flesh (John 1:14). Think about that: God spoke His promise in words, and when His Word became flesh, His promise was delivered.
Only God can fulfill what God has promised, so you can give thanks today that Jesus Christ is God.
And you can give thanks that He is man. The angel said to Mary, “The One to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Christ was born as we are born, to live our life, and die our death. He came to us, and stands with us, to act for us.
Only as God can He deliver what God has promised. Only as man can He deliver what God has promised to us.
The angel also announced that He is Holy. “The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).
Here is something that has not been seen before, or since: A man who is holy by nature. This man belongs in heaven by right and, because He is God, He has the capacity to bring others there with Him.
The union of God and man in Jesus Christ, the Holy One, opens the door of hope for us. Calvin states this beautifully:
In short, since neither as God alone could he feel death, nor as man alone could he overcome it, he coupled human nature with divine that to atone for sin he might submit the weakness of the one to death; and that, wrestling with death by the power of the other nature, he might win victory for us (Institutes 2:12.3).
Only the God-man could do that. Rejoice in His victory today!