THE INCARNATION OF JESUS CHRIST
“And the Word became 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.” John 1:14 (NKJV)
The word "incarnation" means to be made, or to become, flesh; hence the Lord Jesus is referred to by many as “The Incarnate Word”’. The incarnation of the Son of God was absolutely necessary to make possible our salvation. A great body of Scripture supports this statement.
THE NECESSITY OF THE INCARNATION
The Word of God makes it abundantly clear that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. We read in Hebrews 10:4-7 (NKJV) “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ’Behold, I have come--In the volume of the book it is written of Me--To do Your will, O God.’ "
Scripture also declares that without the shedding of blood there is not remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22). Since animal sacrifices could only typify the acceptable blood, (that of the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8); then the Lamb, Himself, would have to shed His blood for the remission of the sins of man. (I Peter 1:18-19).
God, in the state of His eternal glory, cannot die. Therefore it became necessary for God to become man that He might be able to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26). We read in Philippians: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV)
Let us give closer attention to the glory of our Lord Jesus before He left His throne in heaven to be born as a babe in Bethlehem’s manger (Luke 2:1-20).
PRIOR TO THE INCARNATION
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3 (NKJV)
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:15-16 (NKJV)
PLACE OF THE INCARNATION
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." Micah 5:2 (NKJV)
“Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said,’ Truly this is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Christ.’ But some said, ‘Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" John 7:40-42 (NKJV)
God distinguished which Bethlehem…for there were two such towns in Israel, one in Judah (Bethlehem-Ephrata) and one in Zebulon.
PRICE OF THE INCARNATION
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." John 3:14 (NKJV)
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die." JOhn 12:32-33 (NKJV)
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)
PURPOSE OF THE INCARNATION
The incarnation of our Lord Jesus accomplished several things. His coming clearly declared the love of God the Father for the world (John 3:16). He taught us great spiritual truths. He set a glorious example by which we are to pattern our lives. All this is true, but the primary reason for His coming into the world was to die for our sins! Consider:
“But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified…. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ’Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." John 12:23, 27-28 (NKJV)
