God Became MAN

Over the years, the song has caught a decent amount of criticism. One person wrote “Anyone who has even a slight familiarity with the biblical account of Christ's conception and birth shouldn't need to ask if Mary knew, because the Bible plainly tells us she did."

I get the criticism. The angel was pretty clear, Mary was going to give birth to:

Luke 1:30–33 CSB

30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

But did she really understand? Did she REALLY get it?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm the storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God

Sure, she knew in theory, but how could anyone really grasp just how incredible this child was, and still is.

That is John’s desire these early verses of his gospel account, to grasp just how incredible this event in human history actually was.

Last week we looked at the significance of God becoming a man, highlighting 3 ways the incarnation reveals the nature and character of God.

This week I want to consider the significance of the humanity of Christ. God became MAN, “made his home among us.”

John 1:1–18 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

Christmas Reveals

The UNDENIABLE UNIQUENESS of Jesus.

Colossians 2:9 CSB

9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,

This is the uniqueness of Jesus, He is like no other.

He was immortal God in the flesh, clothed with human skin.

He had to breath, eat, drink, and sleep.

If you cut him he bled. When it was hot he sweat.

And yet, He was God...

This very though, and the words of John 1:14 are ridiculous in most every religious and non-religious worldviews.

The thought of God joining together with man is just crazy.

In some religious traditions, like Islam, it is absolute blasphemy that deserves punishment.

Elise Fitzpatrick says “The incarnation sets Christianity apart from every other religion. The thought that God would become man is simply without parallel in any other faith. In no other religion does a god do anything more that tell his subjects what to do to become like him, earn his favor, or give instruction on how, if they are lucky, the might avoid ticking him off. In no other religion does a creator god become weak and an indistinguishable part of his creation.”

We as Christians often struggle to present our faith in ways that are compelling to the world.

We can, and often do, present God as a giver of rules and regulations. Basically making Him indistinguishable to other gods.

But our God is like no other. Our God did not see His standing as something to grasp a hold of and never let go.

He, compelled by love and driven by divine purpose, saw fit to humble himself in order to fix the brokenness that we, mankind, had caused.

Yes we follow Him, obey His words, but not to earn His favor. We love because He loved us first. We serve because He has served us so well.

He is unlike any other, praise Him.

The COMPASSIONATE SYMPATHY of Jesus.

The uniqueness of Christ rests in the union of God and man. He became like us in ALL ways.

Elise Fitzpatrick points out “God became so completely one of us that people who lived with Him didn’t notice anything special about him.”

He didn’t stand out, didn’t have a halo over His head, or glow with light as He walked down the street.

He was unassuming, even unattractive.

Isaiah 53:2 CSB

2 He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.

But that is what makes Jesus so unique and so incredible.

He was and is relatable to any and all.

And He is knows our pains, struggles, desires, and delights.

Isaiah 53:3–4 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Hebrews 2:17–18 CSB

17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15–16 CSB

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

In the incarnation, Jesus took on not JUST flesh, but all that it means to be human.

He knows personally what is feels like to be rejected by those you love.

He knows personally the weight of loneliness and the pain of loss.

He knows sorrow, anger, pain, frustration.

And He also knows joy, friendship, kindness, love, and peace.

We are told that Jesus was “tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

It easy to think that Jesus didn’t deal with temptation, pain, suffering, loss, anxiety, and sadness like we do, but we are wrong.

Our unique Savior and Lord knows our struggles, knows our pain, and is acquainted with our grief.

Yesterday, as I was seeing the devastation all through our community and the other communities near us, I couldn’t help but thank God that He led me to this truth today, several weeks ago.

Jesus knows the pain of loss and destruction.

He is close to us, sympathizing with us in all our emotions.

Likewise, for those struggling with sin today, he knows the struggle with temptation.

He has been tempted like us in all ways, and yet is without sin.

He has felt temptation is ways even we haven’t felt it, since He has been tempted even beyond the point we have and yet still did not give in.

He is close to us in our temptations and struggles with sin and has shown us the better way.

The INTENTIONAL PURPOSE of Jesus.

Have you ever went into Walmart intending to buy just a couple of items you need. Then spend way too much time shopping around, only to get home and realize you forgot the very items you went to Walmart for.

You forgot your purpose didn’t you.

Jesus didn’t forget His purpose. He was born to die.

Romans 5:6 CSB

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

1 Timothy 1:15 CSB

15 This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.

God’s purpose in taking on Flesh was not to put on magic shows, preach to big crowds, and see the sights of earth.

The cross was always a part of the plan, not a surprise ending.

Jesus’s intentional purpose was to die in order that He might rise and in rising He might finally and fully defeat the devil and destroy sin and death.

It might seem like Jesus had a lot of other, equally important agendas on earth, but we would be mistaken.

If Jesus had been born and was murdered on a cross at 15 He still would have accomplished the main purpose for His life.

Romans 8:3–4 CSB

3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Jesus lived in order to do what we could never do.

And He willing died in order to offer anyone and everyone eternal hope, eternal life, and eternal joy in Him.

The miracles, the teaching, and everything else, yeah those are important and gave us a glimpse of the kingdom, a model for life, and a clearer knowledge of truth.

But it really was icing on the cake.

He was born to die.

“When the babe was born In a manger on the hay, God saw a veil torn, He saw Good Friday. He was born to die. “Shane and Shane”

Closing

What we are offering the world this Christmas, as we tell the Christmas story, is a God who is like no other who has ever existed, who knows the joys and the pains of those He created in a deep, intimate, and sympathetic way, and who came to earth in order to be a savior for those who trust in His name.

This story is much more significant than gift giving, decorations, family traditions, and catchy music.

This is a story of love, grace, glory, and goodness.

A story we ALL must hear, must tell, and must

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