Readings for today: Hebrews 1-4
Incarnation. It’s a big theological word that gets thrown around this time of year. It’s a word we use to describe the mystery of God becoming one of us. The Word of God taking on human flesh. The Lord of the universe coming into our world as a helpless human baby. If we’re honest, none of us truly grasp this mystery. None of us can wrap our minds or hearts around it. All we can do is gather around the manger in wonder and awe. It’s a miracle to behold rather than understand. At the same time, we must probe the mystery. Faith seeks understanding. And the writer of Hebrews is a great guide.
Listen to how he describes the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. The miracle that took place that first Christmas. The wonder of the Christ child who lay in the manger.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3) Can you imagine? The same God who shaped and fashioned the world, can barely grasp Joseph’s finger. The same God who upholds the universe by the word of His power must now learn his first words just like any human child. The same God who dwells in glorious, unapproachable light is born in the darkness of a peasant home among the animals. And yet, from the very beginning, there was something different about this child. Angelic choirs accompanied his birth. Shepherds left their fields to find Him. Mary and Joseph gazed in awe at their newborn child. Conceived by the Holy Spirit. Born of a virgin womb. God Himself clothed in human flesh.
“But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (Hebrews 2:9-10) God subjects Himself to suffering. Why? What would ever prompt such a thing? Why not just eradicate suffering? Why not just do away with all death? Why not just step in and get rid of evil? God desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of His truth. And His eternal plan from the beginning was to accomplish that salvation by becoming one of us. One with us. The One who created the angels subjects Himself to weakness. The One who was crowned with glory and honor subjects Himself to death. The One who exists in eternal perfection is made even more perfect through suffering. This was God’s plan from eternity.
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:14-18) Through the sin of Adam, death entered the world. Death is the righteous punishment for sin. But it is temporary. It is not part of the eternal order. Death was never intended to reign forever. According to His sovereign plan, God enters the world at the right time. He becomes flesh and blood just like His children. He dies so that He might destroy the power of death once and for all. He literally becomes sin for us so that we might become His righteousness. Death is no longer to be feared. Death is no longer to hold dominion. Our great enemy is robbed of his greatest weapon. All by the One who became one of us. As the great church father, Gregory of Nazianzus once put it, “That which is unassumed remains unhealed.” God was made like us in every respect. Every facet of human existence is taken up into God’s divine life. He suffered. He was tempted. And this is what makes Him our faithful high priest. He is able to help us because He understands us.
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16) Ultimately, the only reason we can draw near the throne of grace with confidence is because of what Jesus has done. By coming into the world, Jesus opens a door into the very presence of God. He lights the way so we might find our way in. He raises every valley. He brings every mountain down. He makes the crooked path straight and the rough places plain. God did all of this in Jesus Christ in order to save to the uttermost those who would draw near to Him. Merry Christmas!
Readings for tomorrow: Hebrews 5-8