The Glorious Incarnation
Soon the world will once again celebrate Christmas. As the years march on,
the controversy surrounding this day magnifies. The mainstream church
seeks to defend its language, “Merry Christmas” from the Christ denying
“Happy Holiday” or “Winter Solstice” substitutions. Some Christians view it
as an unholy alliance between Christianity and paganism, which should be
avoided like the plague. Of course, the same case is made for Holy Week
and the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection.
In typical fashion, the God-hating world consistently dishonors the
significance of Christ by substituting His preeminence with pagan themes.
The question then becomes, should we throw out the baby with the bath
water? In other words, should we reject God’s original due to satanic
counterfeits? I will leave these questions to each man’s conscience to consider.
The view of Christmas has other implications as well. Some Protestants
cringe at the last three words mas as it may be a reference to the Catholic
Mass. Some point out that Christ was not born on December 25th, so why
even bother. Others seek to avoid the commercialism surrounding the birth
of Christ by concentrating on the “reason for the season. “Obviously,
Christmas has become many things to many people.
But whether people honor or protest Christmas, its annual commemoration
seems certain. I suspect it will remain this way for the foreseeable future.
Minimally, the merchants of the earth have a vested interest to secure the
day if for no other reason than to boost their bottom line. The purpose for
this article, however, seeks to understand the birth of Christ from a Biblical
perspective. Does the Bible honor the event? If so, in what ways is the birth
of Christ distinguished?
There is no doubt the God of the Bible viewed it as a major production.
There were several hundred prophecies, types, and shadows that predicted,
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6)In fact,
there are over three hundred prophecies concerning the Messiah interwoven
throughout the Old Testament. Some of them are duplications of the same
prophecy. For instance, the prophecy concerning Jesus being from the house
of David is repeated about fourteen times. The prophecy that foretells the
birth place of Messiah as the city of Bethlehem is repeated five times (Micah
5:2). The number of non-repeating distinct prophecies, however, comes in
at about one hundred and ninety.
M.B. Bleecker, an engineer, took one hundred and fifty of these noteworthy
prophecies that Jesus fulfilled and calculated the odds of His fulfilling them
all. The odds of one man fulfilling one hundred and fifty prophecies in one
lifetime are one in -
1,039,851,278,722,473,896,502,516,467,047,788,121,009,514,090,594,30
4
The odds of Jesus fulfilling just eight of them in His lifetime are one in -
100,000,000,000,000,000
Following up on this mathematical probability, consider Peter Stoner in
Science Speaks (Moody Press, 1963). Mr. Stoner demonstrates that
coincidence is ruled out by the science of probability. Stoner suggests that
by using the modern science of probability in reference to eight prophecies,
“We find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present
time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 1017.” That would be 1 in
100,000,000,000,000,000. In order to help us comprehend this staggering
probability, Stoner illustrates it by supposing that “we take 1017 silver
dollars and lay them over the face of Texas, so that they cover all of the
state two feet deep.”
Mr. Stoner continues:
Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all
over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he
wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right
one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same
chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies
and having them all come true in any one man.
In the realms of astronomy, the Star of Bethlehem has garnered for itself
the world’s most famous celestial event in history. God rearranged the
heavens as a sign that something of dramatic worth was transpiring upon
the earth. Of course, it was never a common occurrence that the heavens
would open and a choir of angelic hosts would appear to sing praise to God
as they bring “good tidings of great joy.”
What was the reason for such a bodacious display? They were carrying a
divine message, which stated, “For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
The Bible records that there was no small stir to the holy announcement.
The most famous response came from the woman who was chosen to
conceive and give birth to the Son of God. Today, we recognize Mary's
prophetic reply as the Magnificat. Pay close attention to her declarations as
it pertains to this poor fallen world. Mary cries out:
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for,
behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he
that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And
his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He
hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their
seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with
good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen
his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our
fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”
Mary acknowledges the incredible favor that has been demonstrated to her
personally. Beyond personal considerations, she proclaims that there will be
powerful ramifications that will greatly impact the world. Wrongs will be
righted, and justice will eventually prevail. Oppression in due course will
cease. Tyrants, dictators, the ruling elite, and the proud will be cast down.
The hungry, poor, outcast, and disenfranchised will be helped. All this and
more is guaranteed by the promise God spoke to Abraham and is now
coming to pass with the birth of Christ. Is this something that should be
ignored, or should it be shouted from the rooftops now and forever more.
The theological term for this glorious event is called the Incarnation. In
general terms it means in the flesh or to become human. When it comes to
the birth of Christ, however, who or what is becoming human or coming in
the flesh? The Gospel according to John grants us the Biblical meaning, John
1:1 and 1:14 states:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God... And the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The denial of the Incarnation is what actually constitutes the dreadful
designation the Bible calls Anti-Christ. Any person, religion, or philosophy
that denies Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is Anti-Christ (1 John 4:1-3).
Perhaps, there is more to this Christmas business than meets the eye.
Remarkably, the same Word that spoke the heavens and the earth into
existence, the same Word canonized in the Bible, the same Word that God
sent to heal us, and deliver us from destruction became flesh and dwelt
among us. One of the specific Words is the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 which
states, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Matthew
interprets the name Immanuel as “God with us.” C. S. Lewis defined the
significance of the Incarnation as “ The Son of God became a man so that
men could become the sons of God.”
The first mention of the promise of the Incarnation traces back to Genesis
3:15. God promised, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt
bruise his heel.” Normally, I present this passage of Scripture to teach on
the battle that is raging for the souls of men, the lives of children, and the
future of our planet. For this blog, however, the emphasis will change.
The spot light will focus on this passage as the first mention of the glorious
Gospel of the Kingdom and the Incarnation as God’s remedy to correct the
fall of man. To make this possible God had to establish a seed line.
God tapped Abraham and said, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me,
and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee,
and will multiply thee exceedingly.”
Why did God choose Abraham? This might have something to do with it. Genesis 18:19 states, “For I know him,
that he will command his children and his household after him, and they
shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord
may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”
The promise of Messiah passed from Abraham to Isaac from Isaac to Jacob.
Jacob had twelve sons, which became the twelve tribes of Israel. Out of the
twelve tribes, the tribe of Judah was chosen. Genesis 49:10 promised, “The
sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. “
Out of the tribe of Judah, the House of David was chosen. 2 Samuel 7:12, 13
declares:
“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I
will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels,
and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name,
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.”
Finally, the book of Galatians announces “The Promise” is born. Galatians
4:4, 5 records, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were
under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
Having traced the seed line that brought about the Glorious Incarnation, it is
time to explore what this means to us and this poor fallen world? There are
many wonderful blessings associated with the Incarnation, but for our
purposes, I would like to concentrate on just two of them. One is corporate that
concerns the world and the other is individual.
The corporate implications of the Incarnation are discovered in Isaiah 9:6, 7.
God’s word states:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counseller, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of
Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and
to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
When did the Kingdom of God come and the establishment of God's
government commence? When the Son was given and the Holy Child was
born. What does this mean in the real world? “The kingdoms of this world
are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign
forever and ever.” (Revelations 11:15)How or when shall it completely take
place? All we need to know is “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it.”
The Gospel according to Luke reveals how Christmas relates to us as
individuals. God’s word states:
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly
favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And
when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her
mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said
unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And,
behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and
shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the
Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of
his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;
and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the
angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel
answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also
that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of
God (Luke 1:28-35).
Biblically, the same manner in which Mary conceived Christ physically is the
same manner we receive Christ spiritually. Be it unto us according to thy
Word. 1 Peter 1:23 affirms this powerful truth, “Being born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and
abideth for ever.”
James concurs, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word,
which is able to save your souls .”(James 1:21). The Apostle Paul agrees as
well, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Timothy 3:15)
The circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ into our poor fallen world
are highly significant as well. As the heavens and the earth were being
prepared to receive their King, Satan was preparing to devour the Child.
Revelation 12:3, 4 states:
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red
dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his
heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to
the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to
give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
Why this murderous plot by the one who has come to kill, steal, and
destroy? Simply, “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a
rod of iron (Revelation 12:5). It was either murder this Child or be
dispossessed in time and history.
Herod, the wicked king, was the willing dupe of the Evil One to seek the
destruction of the Christ Child. One cannot truly commemorate the Glorious
Incarnation without remembering the Massacre of the Innocent. When Herod
checked with the sages as to the time and location of Messiah’s birth, he, in
a fit of rage, sent soldiers to murder all children in Bethlehem under the age
of two. Better the innocent are slain than the guilty party escape.
With all its pomp and ceremony, whether feigned or unfeigned, associated
with the Christmas saga, the birth of Messiah reveals the battle that rages to
this day. Whenever Satan rears his ugly head, he goes after the seed of
men. He is not just waiting for the Child to be born to devour in our day, he
is reaching into the womb to devour children who are made in the image of
God. The abortion holocaust of our day is the continuation of the Massacre of
Innocents. Yet, the same God who survived Herod, will be the same God
who will work through His Church to end this atrocity in Jesus' name!
The Christmas account also reveals that there was no room for him in the
inn. This world and each sinner in it have a natural repulsion towards Christ.
We suppress the truth in unrighteousness. We reject the light and walk in
darkness for fear our evil deeds will be exposed. We go astray from the
womb because we are conceived in sin. We are born alienated from God and
seek to be a law and god unto ourselves. We love our sin more than we love
God. Thus for many, there is no room in our wicked hearts for Christ.
He was born in a stinky stable and laid in a manger. The manger was not a
crib, but a feeding trough for animals. To think that the King of the universe
chose this humble estate in which to become one of us is quite revealing.
What a powerful depiction of the state of our lives before the King of Glory
by the power of the Holy Ghost takes up residence in our immoral lives. We
suffer from stinking thinking and sinful actions. When Christ regenerates our
lives, however, the sanctifying power of His precious blood goes to work to
purify and cleanse our "smelly stables."
Lastly, the ruling elite were clueless as the lowly shepherds saw and heard
the glorious announcement:
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye
shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:10-14).
So, it is today, many glory in their riches, power, and wisdom, while those
who are being saved boast in the Lord. In this way Christmas, among its
many other accomplishments, also reveals our calling:
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath
chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are
despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to
nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But
of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as
it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Just as in His resurrection, Christ refused to appear to Pilate, Caesar, and
the High Priest, but rather visited His rough and unsophisticated disciples, so
at His birth, the angels appear to lowly shepherds and bypass the rich and
famous. As Jesus grew into an adult; His attitude towards the proud never
changed. He prayed, “ thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast
revealed them unto babes (Matthew 11:25). “O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33)
Much more can be shared about the implications of the Incarnation, but this
will have to suffice for now.
With that said, I want to wish you and yours
a very Merry Christmas and most blessed New Year in God’s Kingdom!
