May the incarnation come in fullness in you this year.
Jesus coming was for the redemption and salvation of man. But more than that, yes more, His coming was wrapped up in God’s eternal purpose to fellowship with you intimately. His desire to make it possible for you to know Him, as well as He knows you; and possible for you to be comfortable with Him, and He comfortable with you. His name was called Emmanuel.- God with us.
Here are a few scriptures that are a bit less traditional to the season, but outline God’s purpose in the incarnation we celebrate
[Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB] “18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His (God’s)calling, what are the riches of the glory of His (God’s) inheritance in the saints (believers), 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His (God’s) power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His (God’s) might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He (God) raised Him (Jesus) from the dead and seated Him(Jesus) at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He (God) put all things in subjection under His(Jesus) feet, and gave Him (Jesus) as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His (Jesus) body, the fullness of Him (God) who fills all in all.”
[2 Corinthians 5:21]“He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus) .”
An inheritance comes only after a death. Jesus came not to be your personal savior, although He is that, and that salvation is the portal to His greater purpose. But, He came primarily to present to the Father His (God’s) inheritance in the likes of you and me. What the scripture calls “the saints”.
How glorious the incarnation in the purpose of God, how great His grace and love, how deep His desire, from eternity past, to bring us into intimate fellowship, so that His only begotten Son might be the first born of many brothers/sisters who are in Him.
[Hebrews 2:9-11 NASB95] 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, [namely,] Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one [Father;] for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
[1John 3:1-3 NASB95] 1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and [such] we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope [fixed] on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
The hope we have as children, sons and daughters, of God would be great if it were only to see Him. But God’s full love has not only made seeing Him our hope. But, our hope goes far beyond just seeing Jesus to being being like Him,
John, who had seen and touched the incarnate Jesus. The incarnate Word!!! invites us into the same fellowship he enjoyed with Jesus, and the fellowship Jesus has had with the Father for all eternity. Imagine. GOD WITH US… and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ.
[1John 1:1-3 NASB95] 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-– 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us– 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas!
When the Father’s wisdom wanted to communicate His love
He spoke it in one final perfect word
He spoke the incarnation and then so was born the Son
His final word was Jesus, He needed no other one
Spoke flesh and blood, so He could bleed and make a way divine
And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine
——The Final Word by Michael Card