The Incarnation of Jesus Christ
![Amazing Humility – The Incarnation
A Continuing Study in the Book of John, chapter 1
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© September 18, 2011
www.pastorkennedy.com
(On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.)
The Incarnation
When one speaks of the Incarnation – where God becomes man, there can be an immediate human agnostic intellectual negative response over the validity of such a proposal:
• Is there a God, in the first place? - Prove it.
• Why would God need to become man?
• If we die and there is nothing after death…what is the point?
Stories incorporating a wild parallel are written throughout the world’s ancient myths where god-like creatures take on human forms, but those mythologies are so fanciful and outrageous that they are obviously the figments of imagination.
The Necessity of the Incarnation
This Incarnation narrative, of Christ the Creator becoming man, is spoken of in the Bible as absolute truth…and necessary/essential, because it encompasses the very redemption of those in the human race. The necessity of the Incarnation is at the core of the spiritual and eternal dimension of mankind.
The first chapter of the New Testament book of John explodes with the revelation of “The Word” who is equated as God. Verse 14 identifies who “The Word” is. The Word is Jesus Christ.
John 1:1–18
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
“The Word became Flesh”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Who is “The Word”? John 1:1-14
• “The Word” was in the Beginning.
• “The Word” was with God.
• “The Word” was God.
• All things were made by “The Word”.
• Nothing was made that has been made – without The Word. All natural resource and all life, ever created, has been made by “The Word” – including the ability to be creative!
• In “The Word” was (and is) life.
• The Life of “The Word” was (and is) the only true “Light” for everyone.
• This “Light” shines in darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
• This “Light” came into the world but the world did not know it.
• The “Light” came to His own people, but His own people rejected Him.
• He who created everything in the world, came into the world He created, but that same world did not know Him.
The Revelation of “The Word”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
The Incarnation reveals to us on this earth:
• Who God is.
• How He rules.
• His Awesome Power.
• The problems in which His creation has found itself.
• How He, as God, their Creator, seeks to relate and redeem those whom He has created.
A. The Authority for the Incarnation
“There is a God who created all things.”
1. The Evident Presence of The Creator establishes the foundation for the Incarnation.
The foundation to the reality of the Incarnation is the affirmation that there is a God; that He created us by His Power and Authority, and is personally involved with His Creation.
Profound, extremely complex creation shouts to all who will listen, from the beginning of time to the end of time, with visual brilliance and clarity, uncluttered by language barriers, that there is a God who created all things.
There are only three possibilities for the existence of the creation, in which we live, move and have our being:
• A Personal Creator God created everything and is still intimately involved in His creation.
• An impersonal creator “planted” all the seeds of every living thing and species and then left that which it haphazardly created, to have nothing more to do with earth and its unfortunate inhabitants.
• The final and seemingly most accepted “theory” (in our world) for the existence of the universe and life on our planet is that everything came from “Nothing” (or the undeterminable “dark matter”) and evolved itself into the dynamic complexity seen today with 8 to 9 million species which cannot cross pro-creation lines to have offspring. (This obviously sidelines the reality of God, especially a God who is Personal – One who requires accountability.)
o “Nothing” is ever seen (by anyone) to ever prevail over any existing created being.
o “Nothing” is ever seen (by anyone) to ever spontaneously create “something” else.
o “Nothing” is ever seen to sustain itself or to evolve into something else – it simply remains “nothing”…
Dark Matter?
Dark matter (either cold or warm), the unknown, unseen substance which take the place of “nothing” in some circles, is continuing to come under serious question. I recently read an article from Science Reporter Leila Battison, titled “Dwarf galaxies suggest dark matter theory may be wrong”. Interesting. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14948730
The Bible Clearly Speaks unambiguously about how we exist:
“God created everything”.
Psalm 19:1–4
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world….
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Because belief in “a Personal Creator God” clearly reveals to us that there is a God who is intimately involved in our lives, there is foundational cause in the reason for the Incarnation.
2. The Unique Humility of The Creator authenticates the Incarnation of Christ
If there is no power that can prevail against God the Creator, then there is no necessity for The Creator’s Power to continually prove itself, to prevail!
Simply said, “If you have to keep proving that you are the strongest, the one ‘in charge’, or that you can beat up all opponents, then you must be afraid that there is somebody stronger, more powerful than you are.”
If you are fully aware of your own sovereign power, then you can use even the most offensive rebellion of self-centered creations, to whom you have given free will, for your own purposes, without being threatened. If you are fully aware of your own sovereign power, you can evidence true and certain humility without vanity.
Because God is All-Powerful, He can make the “wrath of man to praise Him” and that which does not praise Him, He “can restrain” (Ps. 76:10).
Is God threatened when a tiny, powerless person says they don’t believe in Him, though they laugh obnoxiously in His Face? God knows the day of their death is coming and they will then face Him. “For we must all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ!” (2 Cor. 5:10)
• This sets apart our God, from all others “gods” or brokers of power!
• The fact that Christ came in humility reveals a key indicator of the authenticity of the Incarnation.
How should a king come?
Our son was involved with the personnel escorting the Royal Couple in their recent visit to LA. I watched the excitement that the prince and his new wife generated from Canada to LA in their visit.
Nothing seems to be “too good” for a potential king and his bride!
Why was the “humility” of Christ” and His coming to earth so different from what royalty and those who have had political success, have come to expect: royal processions, state dinners and high profile media attention – often generating prideful exaltation?
The following song written by Carol and Jimmy Owens, I believe, says it very well. (It is a wonderful song which would be an excellent addition to your Christmas playlist. I found it on itunes...)
“How Should A King Come?”
How should a King come?
Even a child knows the answer of course,
In a coach of gold with a pure white horse!
In a beautiful city in the prime of the day,
And the trumpets should cry and the crowds make way.
And the flags fly high in the morning sun,
And the people all cheer for the sovereign one.
And everyone knows that's the way that it's done.
That's the way that a King should come!
How should a King come?
Even a commoner understands,
He should come for His treasures,
And His houses and lands.
He should dine upon summer strawberries and milk,
And sleep upon bedclothes of satin and silk.
And high on a hill His castle should glow,
With the lights of the city like jewels below.
And everyone knows that's the way that it's done,
That's the way that a King should come!
How should a King come?
On a star-filled night into Bethlehem,
Rode a weary woman and a worried man.
And the only sound in the cobblestone street,
Was the shuffle and the ring of their donkey's feet.
And a King lay hid in a virgin's womb,
And there were no crowds to see Him come!
At last in a barn in a manger of hay,
He came and God incarnate lay!
And the angels cried, "Glory, glory to God".
Earth was silent so heaven rang!
"Glory, glory to God."
Men were dumb so the angels sang,
"Glory, glory to God,
Peace on earth good will to men,
Glory, glory to God!"
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Glory to God! Glory in the Highest!
Glory to God! Glory in the Highest!
Glory, to God!
Jesus’ Humility Reflected Incarnation
Jesus, God’s Son already knew His amazing place being equal with God – He didn’t need a pseudo “triumphal entry” of human glory at His birth when He came to earth. He would one day fulfill the prophesied final “triumphal entry” and the same week be crucified as the Lamb of God!
If you are fully aware of your own sovereign power, you can evidence true and certain humility, without the necessity of the vanity of potentially false elevation – especially from those who display such adulations toward you, who may do so in vanity for their own purpose or personal prideful exaltation!
Look at the attitude of the Son of God when He was Incarnated:
Philippians 2:3–11
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
True Humility and Eternal Purpose always trump earthly pomp and human prideful accolades.
Review:
A. The Authority for the Incarnation
Incarnation is established on the facts that:
1. There is a Personal, Loving God who created us. This is foundational to have an Incarnation.
2. Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to earth humbly. This is totally opposite to what a carnal and self-seeking mortal king would have done.
B. The Necessity for the Incarnation
“We Are Broken as a Human Race”
There is a Necessity for the Incarnation. We are a broken people and no one in our sinful human race can redeem him or herself before a Holy God.
“Four Reasons Why God is Shaking America and the World”
I read recently a sobering message by Joel Rosenburg called “Four Reasons Why God is Shaking America and the World”. [http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/four-reasons-why-god-is-shaking-america-the-world-text-of-wake-up-call-sermon/]
In it he gave several statistics about the spiritual “brokenness” in which we find ourselves.
“Since 1973, more than 53 million abortions. More than 53 million children murdered, and there is no end in sight.” [http://www.nrlc.org/Factsheets/FS03_AbortionInTheUS.pdf.]
“Today the pornography industry is larger than the revenues of Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink – combined.” [http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics-pg2.html]
“Our federal debt is now more than $14 trillion – that’s trillion with a “t.” It’s hard to imagine so much money. But put it this way: if we were to pay one dollar per second every hour of every day of every month to pay down our national debt, it would take us more than 32,000 years just to pay off $1 trillion – but we have more than $14 trillion of debt.” [http://www.defeatthedebt.com/understanding-the-national-debt/millions-billions-trillions/]
Humankind are Broken and it is no secret…Just look around
Listen to the nightly news. Read the morning paper. Review the headlines of the world online…our world is a broken world.
How can a Holy God allow a broken people to make up His Holy Kingdom? He could not!
The Sacrifice of the Sinless Lamb
The only way a sinful people can be redeemed is through a sinless sacrifice. Only One is sinless – God Himself. Jesus Christ, God the Son was Incarnated into human form through His virgin birth and bore the sin of mankind in His body on the cross. The Incarnation was imperative to provide a way of redemption for our fallen human race.
C. The Eternal Purpose for the Incarnation
“We Are Eternal Beings”
Jesus Christ Revealed His Uniqueness and His Incarnation at His Trial, through a statement that sealed His death.
Anyone would have been a fool to state what Jesus spoke at His trial, unless He had been the true and eternal Son of God. His statement revealed the certainty of His Incarnation – through Eternal Purpose.
Earthly kings reveal their mortality through grasping for more power.
Christ revealed His Incarnation through His certainty of Eternal Purpose, though it meant His earthly death.
Mark 14:55–63
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’ ” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked.
Jesus made it clear to those Jewish authorities who wished Him dead, that He was the Eternal Son of God…and He was willing to die for that fact.
Jesus Christ was God Incarnate.
“My Kingdom is Not of This World”
John 18:33–36
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
Jesus made it clear to the Roman Authority who could deliver Him from death, that His Kingdom was not of this world…and He was willing to die for that fact.
Eternal Purpose: The Eternality of the Kingdom of The Creator causes the responses of life to assume a totally different dimension. “My Kingdom is not of this world!”
Jesus’ Eternal Perspective confirms, with His confession at the moment of His Ultimate Sacrifice, that He was God Incarnate, The Savior of the world and the coming King of kings!
Conclusion
Incarnation is established on the facts that:
1. There is a Personal, Loving God who created us. This is foundational to have an Incarnation.
2. Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to earth humbly. This is totally opposite to what a carnal and self-seeking mortal king would have done, and reveals Christ’s true character.
3. There is a Necessity for the Incarnation. We are a broken people and no one in our sinful human race can redeem him or herself before a Holy God.
4. There is an Eternal Purpose, which gives reason and hope to the extreme sacrifice inherent in the Incarnation!
“The Word became Flesh”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
(Reason for the Incarnation)
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2](The_Incarnation_files/shapeimage_2.png)
