We celebrate many things at Christmas: family, food, generosity, blessings, and more.
However, the heart of Christmas is the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
The word incarnation literally means “into flesh.”
It refers to God becoming human in order to come to this earth and be with humanity.
Many of us have heard the name given to Jesus, Immanuel, which means “God is with us.”
Matthew 1:23 shares this beautiful reality when it says, “See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated ‘God is with us.’”
John 1:14 says, “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.”
The incarnation means that God became human and dwelt with humanity.
The incarnation is essential to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let me talk quickly about four truths that are possible because of the incarnation.
First, because of the incarnation . . .
I. Jesus can identify with us.
Jesus knows what it is like to be human.
Jesus was tempted.
Jesus was tired.
Jesus cried.
Jesus ate, drank, and slept.
Jesus was loved by some and mistreated by others.
Of Jesus, Hebrews 4:15 says, “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.”
Because God became flesh in the man Jesus of Nazareth, He is able to say, “I know what it’s like to be one of you.”
Jesus is able to identify with us.
Second, because of the incarnation . . .
II. Jesus can represent us.
Because Jesus is one of us, He can represent us before God the Father; He can speak for us.
Romans 5:19 says, “For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”
The first human, Adam, represented humanity when he brought sin into the world. So also, Jesus can represent us by making us righteous before God.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
Have you ever been in a situation where you are with a group, and you want to speak to the person who is in charge, but you’re not sure who’s going to do it? You need someone who will represent the group well, don’t you?
Jesus is the perfect representative. He knows us, and He knows God the Father very well.
Third, because of the incarnation . . .
III. Jesus can sacrifice for us.
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death . . . ”
Do you know if God the Father wanted to sacrifice His life for us, He wouldn’t be able to do so? God cannot die.
However, a human can die. So, God sent His Son to the earth, as a human, so that He might sacrifice His life for us.
John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
The incarnation means that Jesus took on a human life so that He could give that human life as a sacrifice for our sins.
Finally, because of the incarnation . . .
IV. Jesus can save us.
The sacrifice of Jesus makes it possible for us to be rescued from our sins.
The name Jesus means, “The Lord saves.”
Indeed, the Lord God can save us from our sins through the death of the human being, Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.”
Of course, Jesus didn’t stay dead; He rose to new life, and He lives forever.
So also, we can have new life through the power of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Christmas is celebrated because of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Because of the incarnation, Jesus can identify with us, represent us, sacrifice for us, and save us.
(gospel presentation)
(prayer)
