Why the Son of God Became Man (Part 1)

Introduction

Thank God for Simbang Gabi speakers. Beautiful blend/balance of Christmas story and Christmas theology. Lahat naman alam yung Christmas story, what we call nativity, ipinanganak si Jesus sa Bethlehem. People celebrate that without understanding the meaning, or yung Christmas theology, what we call the incarnation, the Son of God made flesh, nagkatawang tao ang Anak ng Diyos para tuparin ang pangako at plano ng Diyos para sa ating kaligtasan at para sa kanyang karangalan.

Pero hindi lang sapat siyempre na malaman at maunawaan yung Christmas theology, kundi paniwalaan, panghawakan, at patuloy na paniwalaan hanggang sa dulo. Kaya sa Hebrews tayo ngayon. Tinatalakay dito yung supremacy ni Cristo bilang Son of God, at dahil dun ay kailangan nating ituon ang mga mata natin sa kanya para tayo ay magpatuloy sa pananampalataya, at hindi manghina, at hindi tumalikod at lumayo sa kanya. Maraming tukso, maraming paghihirap tayong haharapin sa araw-araw. Hindi ‘yan hihinto kapag magpapasko. Dahil tuloy-tuloy ang mga tukso at paghihirap na nararanasan natin, tuloy-tuloy din dapat na ituon natin ang paningin natin kay Cristo.

Sa kabuuan ng Hebrews, tinatalakay dito kung sa anu-anong paraan evident o kitang-kita ang pagiging “supreme over all” ng Panginoong Jesus. Dito sa first two chapters ay tungkol sa kanyang supremacy sa lahat ng mga anghel. Sa chapter 1, higit na dakila siya kaysa sa lahat ng mga anghel dahil siya mismo na Anak ng Diyos ay Diyos

Hebrews 1-2: Christ's supremacy over angels. As God, divine nature, in chap. 1. Then as Man, human nature, in chap. 2. We often attribute the glory/greatness of Christ to his divinity. True, of course. But we forget, we neglect, the glory of his humanity. The beauty, the mystery of the incarnation. God-Man (theantrophos) necessary for him to be our Mediator.

Throughout history of the church, especially the earlier era, responding to Christological heresies, his divinity to the forefront, defending against Arians for example. Dapat naman talaga nating ipagtanggol 'yan hanggang ngayon. Pero we must be careful that in doing that, we might relegate his humanity to something trivial, incidental, or what one said as his "humanity being swallowed by his divinity." Hindi nga tayo Arians, nagiging para tayong practical "Docetists" or "Monophysitists" - yung nag-anyong tao lang si Jesus, pero hindi siya tunay na tao. O Apollinarianism, may katawang-tao, pero vessel lang para madala yung kanyang divine nature. No. His incarnation teaches us that he became truly human. Dahil siya ay tunay na Diyos, tunay na tao, he is the Mediator that we need, he is the help that we need.

"he himself likewise partook of the same things (in flesh and blood)" (v. 14). "he had to be made like his brothers in every respect" (v. 17)." Applied Psalm 8 (talking about man) to Jesus (vv. 6-8, 9). The Word became flesh" (John 1:14). "He was manifested in the flesh" (1 Tim 3:16). "taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Phil 2:7). Totoong tao - may katawan at kaluluwa ng tao. Kapag sinabing nagkatawang-tao siya, hindi ibig sabihin katawan lang, kundi buong pagkatao. Hindi rin nagtransform ang pagka-Diyos niya at naging tao, kundi sa pagka-Diyos niya ay idinagdag ang pagka-tao. So yung incarnation ay hindi subtraction ng kanyang pagiging Diyos, kundi addition ng pagiging tao.

Obvious ang evidences ng pagiging tao ni Jesus. Nakita siya, nahawakan siya, nakausap siya, nagutom siya, napapagod siya, natutulog siya, naranasan niya ang mga naranasan natin, naramdaman niya ang mga naramdaman natin. We under-emphasize his humanity, maybe for fear of other groups na nagsasabing tao lang si Jesus. Minsan nagpost ako tungkol sa sinabi ni Athanasius kung bakit kailangang magkatawang tao ang Anak ng Diyos. May nagcomment, naniniwala rin po ba kayo na tao si Jesus? Aba siyempre!

If we over-emphasize his divinity, and neglect his humanity as equally necessary for him to be our perfect Mediator, anong magiging resulta? Sa tingin natin hindi siya ang kailangan natin, o hindi niya maibibigay ang tulong na kailangan natin. Yung iba lalapit kay Mary, siya raw ang Ina ng Laging Saklolo, o Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Where else? A baka yung iba hindi na iniisip na kailangan natin ng mediator sa Diyos. May matindi ang pangangailangan sa pinansiyal, kaya umaasa sa tulong na darating na 13th month o Christmas bonus. O maambunan ng kamag-anak sa abroad. O sa pulitiko, buti na lang malapit na election. Depende kasi kung ano ang sa tingin natin ay kailangan natin, kung ano ang pinaka-kailangan natin.

Ano ba talaga ang pinaka-kailangan natin? At sino ang makapagbibigay ng kailangan natin? Yan ang mensahe ng pasko, yung purpose ng incarnation.

Christ is the Help We Need

Christ is the help we need, ang tulong o saklolo na kailangan natin. Heb. 2:16. "help" (lambano), twice, Thayer's - seize, take hold of, by "a metaphor drawn from laying hold of another to rescue him from peril, to help, to succor," hawakan ang kamay, sagipin parang nalulunod. Verse 18, "able to help," diff. word, beotheo, "come to the rescue of," saklolo (Ang Biblia). Like relief/rescue operations sa VisMin dahil sa bagyong Odette, ibigay ang tulong na kailangan para mabuhay.

For surely, supporting previous verses (vv. 14-15), and succeeding verses (vv. 17-18), why Son of God became man, summarizing also (generalizing) the specific needs that Christ provided help for us. Maliwanag, obvious point.

negative, it is not angels that he helps. Context ng chaps. 1-2. Fallen angelic beings, headed by Satan ("the devil" in v. 14). They need help. They need forgiveness, reconciliation, because of their rebellion. But they didn't get the help they need. Is God then unmerciful? He's not obligated to rescue them. He is perfectly just (justified) in leaving them to their miserable condition. He can be perfectly justified also if he will not come to our rescue. Sabi ng iba, hindi naman daw loving ang Diyos kung may kakayahan siyang i-rescue ang mga nalulunod tapos iilan lang ang sinagip niya. Nakakalimutan nila na hindi lang misery ang problema natin, kundi ang laki ng kasalanan natin sa Diyos. Wala siyang obligasyong iligtas ang sinuman. But thanks be to God, he came! He did not go to hell, became like angels, to rescue angels there. He came to earth to rescue sinful human beings. Nang bumaba ang Anak ng Diyos, bumaba ang biyaya ng Diyos. “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1:17).

positively, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Human beings, sinful and rebellious and fallen human beings. Not all human beings, "the offspring of Abraham." Based on context, not physical lineage, although Jesus came to save his people from their sins. But offspring of Abraham by faith in Christ (Gal. 3:7). Jews and Gentiles, "bringing many sons to glory" (v. 10), "children" (vv. 13-14), "brothers" (vv. 11-12, 17). Kung ikaw ay nakay Cristo, lahat ng tulong na galing sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ni Cristo ay sa ‘yo.

Now, what help do we need? And how does the incarnation of the Son of God ensures that we will get the help we need? Important question, kasi sometimes parang hindi visible o tangible yung help na binibigay niya. Parang mas kailangan natin yung sobre na may lamang pera, o yung naka-gift wrap na regalo, o yung kaibigan mo na nandyan dadamay sa yo, makikinig, mahahawakan. We at times feel as if Christ is not real. So how can he provide us real help.

Sin and Death

I. Christ helps us conquer death (vv. 14-15). Today.

II. Christ helps us conquer sin (vv. 17-18). On Sunday.

Sin and death related, Rom. 3:23. Walang kamatayan kung walang kasalanan. Incarnation necessary dahil sa kasalanan ng tao, hindi lang para ipakita ang pagmamahal ng Diyos. Incarnation reminds us of our great need of rescue. Kung makatanggap ka ng regalo, tingin mo karapat-dapat ka. Pero ang pagdating ni Cristo ay nagpapatunay na teribleng makasalanan ka.

Turretin, Institutes, 2:300: "No other end of the advent of Christ and of his incarnation is ever proposed (whether in the Old or in the New Testament) than that he might save his people from their sin...he was incarnated that he might be a Mediator. And yet there would have been no need of a mediator, if there had been no sin. "Irenaeus: "If the flesh did not need to be saved, the word of God would by no means have been made flesh." Augustine: "There was no cause for the coming of Christ, the Lord, except to save sinners..." Gregory the Great: "If Adam had not sinned, there would have been no need for our Redeemer to take on him our flesh."

Now, what help do we need? And how does the incarnation of the Son of God ensures that we will get the help we need?

Good news! Gen. 3:15. - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” After the fall. "Her offspring." Crush the head of the serpent. Incarnation and sin, death, and Satan. Zechariah, “God…redeemed his people and raised up a horn of salvation for us...” (Luke 1:67-79). Horn, image of strength. Mighty warrior to save. Baby born in the manger a warrior king, makikipagdigma in our behalf.

I. Christ helps us conquer death (vv. 14-15). The incarnation. "Children" tayo yun, human beings saved by Christ. "Share in flesh and blood," koinoneo, referring to what is necessary to our human nature. "Partook" - like taking food, adding to you. Fellowship, sharing, oneness. The Son added humanity to his divine nature. Phil. 2:6-7. Not subtraction of deity, but addition of humanity.

Purpose: to destroy the devil. Devil, slanderer. Satan, adversary. Murderer (John 8:44). "The one who has the power of death." Liar (John 8:44). Tempts us to sin. Sin leads to death. Jas 1:15, as in the Garden. Devil vs Jesus

1 Jn 3:8 - “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Truth to defeat lies. Life to defeat death. Life through the death of Christ. Death no power over us. Satan defeated at the cross, Col. 2:13-15.

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Satan has power, god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), prince of this world (Jn 12:31). But Jesus, our Warrior-King, is more powerful. His final destruction awaits in the judgment. But he is now defeated, because sin and death destroyed at the cross and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:56–57 ESV

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death looks like defeat, but the death of Christ is victory, conquest of Satan. His heel was bruised, but the serpent's head was crushed. Satan is real. We live our lives na para bang hindi. But he is in an all out war against believers. So, Christ’s help is real as well.

Purpose: to deliver us from fear of death. Consequence of Christ's Devil-destroying work. "Fear of death...lifelong slavery." We're alive, but we fear dying. We think we don't. But we fear losing our life now, we fear facing what will come after we die.

Fearing what we might lose. But wait until you're hit hard with Covid, or cancer. We fear end of our life. Enslaving fear, we thought we're free, but we're not. We do all things to help ourselves live longer. Good thing, but keeps us from risk-taking obedience to the will of God. Church attendance dahil sa Covid, or generous giving for fear of losing money. Jesus came to set us free to those slavish fears. Because Jesus is our life, we no longer fear death. Dying is gain! What we will lose now is nothing in comparison to what we will receive. Rom 8:18. Phil 3:7-8.

Fearing what we have to face. We fear death because of sin, penalty for sin, condemned. People live in denial of death, or God’s punishment because of this fear. But Jesus removed our condemnation, we no longer fear death as judgment, we face death as gain, entrance into eternal life with our Savior.

Why Christ's full humanity necessary? Devil will not be destroyed. Death will not be vaquished. We will die and remain fearful of dying. Through death. God is immortal. He cannot die. By taking on human nature, he will die. He was born as a human being for the purpose of dying. Tayo iba. Kapag may ipinanganak, we will do everything necessary to keep ourselves or our children alive for as long as we can. God sent his Son not to live a long life, but to give up his life. Born to die. Incarnation a means to that end. Christmas not the goal, although sa atin parang yun ang highlight kasi yearend. Good Friday is the goal. Christmas is a means to that end. Walang Good Friday without the incarnation. Death of Christ at the heart of the gospel. No death without birth. No gospel without incarnation. Incarnation good news for us! That is why we celebrate.

“because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (v. 9). “make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering” (v. 10). Fit to be our mediator. No other.

Turretin (2:302-303). Why God-Man? “The work of redemption could not have been performed except by a God-man associating by incarnation the human nature with the divine by an indissoluble bond...our mediator ought to be God-man (theanthröpos) to accomplish these things: man to suffer, God to overcome; man to receive the punishment we deserved, God to endure and drink it to the dregs; man to acquire salvation for us by dying, God to apply it to us by overcoming; man to become ours by the assumption of flesh, God to make us like himself by the bestowal of the Spirit. This neither a mere man nor God alone could do. For neither could God alone be subject to death, nor could man alone conquer it. Man alone could die for men; God alone could vanquish death. Both natures, therefore, should be associated that in both conjoined, both the highest weakness of humanity might exert itself for suffering and the highest power and majesty of the divinity might exert itself for the victory.”

Implications? You need help. Admit you need help. You fear death, whether you realize it now or not. Or you fear what’s coming. You fear what you will leave behind. Jesus came to conquer your fears. Jesus is all the help you need. So? Consider Jesus (3:1). Contemplate. We have real problems, needing real solutions. We all need help. Christmas celebrations can provide us some distractions, to forget our fears, anxieties, our relational problems. But only band-aid solution. Come to Jesus for help. Fix your eyes on him.