He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. This is the incarnation or enfleshment of God - God became a man!
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. This is the incarnation or enfleshment of God - God became a man!
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. This is the incarnation or enfleshment of God - God became a man!
of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he became a wandering preacher.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of those things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. He was executed by the state. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
The Incarnation of God
Wednesday 23 March 2011
Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Matt 1:23 - they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). Theologically this is the incarnation (from the Latin for flesh) or enfleshment of God - God became a man! This has to be one of the greatest miracles ever. Wednesday 23 March 2011 Isaiah 9:6-77:14 - Therefore the Lordtohimself For will isgive us a child you atosign. born, us a Behold, son the virgin is given; andshall conceive the government and bear shall a son, be upon hisand shall call shoulder, andhis his name shall name Immanuel. be called Wonderful Matt 1:23 Counselor, - they Mighty shall God, call his Everlasting name Immanuel" (which Father, Prince of Peace. means, Godthe Of with us). of his government increase and of peace there Theologically willthe this is be no end,on the throne incarnation of David (from and the Latin over his kingdom, to for flesh) or enfleshmentestablish itof and Godto- uphold it with justice God became a man!and with Thisrighteousness has to be onefrom this time of the forth and miracles greatest forevermore. ever. Wednesday 23 March 2011 1. The Incarnation reveals God’s sovereignty
Every text dealing with the
incarnation is full of God’s sovereignty. Evans suggests this is shown in the genealogy of Matt 1:1-17 - where God worked countless miracles to ensure the right lineage for Jesus, showing he was of the line of David.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
1.a. Sovereignty and omnipotence For prophecy to be fulfilled Mary and Joseph had to be in the city of David, Bethlehem. God used a Roman census to achieve it. When the temple was destroyed in AD70 all records of genealogies were lost - apart from Jesus’ which were recorded by Matthew and Luke. Matt also shows Jesus is connected through Solomon to king David. God arranged the “match” of Mary and Joseph Wednesday 23 March 2011 1.b. Sovereignty and Grace
David - adulterer and murderer
Solomon - 999 women too many Rahab - prostitute and Gentile Ruth - Gentile woman (inheritance was reckoned through the male line not female) Ham is traditionally thought to be the father of Africans
Wednesday 23 March 2011
2. The incarnation reveals God’s holiness Both Joseph and Mary were godly in their lifestyle. Joseph obviously had not had sex with Mary, hence his response - he did not compromise. Matt 1:18-19 - Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. Wednesday 23 March 2011 3. The incarnation reveals God’s power In Luke 1:6-7 - Zechariah...had a wife Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. There were 20,000 priests - the chances of being selected are low unless God is moving
Wednesday 23 March 2011
3. The incarnation reveals God’s 3.a. The visitation to Zechariah power In Luke 1:6-7 - Zechariah...had a wife Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. There were 20,000 priests - the chances of being selected are low unless God is moving
Wednesday 23 March 2011
3. The incarnation reveals God’s 3.a. The visitation to Zechariah power In Luke 1:6-7 - Zechariah...had a wife Elizabeth. And they were God’s timing is amazing - they both righteous before God, walking had no child whilst they were blamelessly in all the young. They had prayed - and commandments and statutes of maybe even stopped praying by the Lord. But they had no child, now. because Elizabeth was barren, and Now it was both were God’s time advanced for their in years. child to be the forerunner of There were 20,000 priests - the the Christ chances of being selected are low unless God is moving
Wednesday 23 March 2011
3.b. The conception of John Zechariah questioned the angel - and hence questioned God, that is he did not believe God’s word. The angel Gabriel did not respond well and to prove what he had said he struck Zechariah dumb. The power of God is at work.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
3.c. The visitation to Mary We see a greater show of God’s power in Jesus having no human father. Luke 1:26-28 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
Wednesday 23 March 2011
3.c. The visitation to Mary Luke We see1:30-33 a greater show of God’s power And theinangelJesussaid having no"Do to her, humannot be father. afraid, Mary, for you have found favor Lukewith God. And behold, you will 1:26-28 conceive in your womb and bear a In son,the andsixth youmonth the his shall call angel nameGabriel was Jesus.sent He from will beGod to aand great citywill of be Galilee called thenamed Son ofNazareth, the MosttoHigh. a virgin And betrothed the Lord God to awill mangivewhose to himname the was Joseph, throne of of his thefather houseDavid, of David. andAndhe the virgin’sover will reign namethewas houseMary. And he of Jacob came forever,toand her ofand hissaid, "Greetings, kingdom O there will favored be no end."one, the Lord is with you!"
Wednesday 23 March 2011
3.d. The conception of Jesus Luke 1:35, Scripture makes it clear how it will happen, and that God is his father. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. Jesus was fully God and fully man - fathered by God, born as a human, coming as a man to save humanity - he would get hungry yet be able to feed 500 people with a few loaves - and he could defeat death. Wednesday 23 March 2011 3.e. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth
Gabriel then gives more
news to Mary, Lk 1:36, 39 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age...At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, And God in his grace gives further confirmation to Mary, Luke 1: 41-43 Mary Elizabeth Winstead - an actress Wednesday 23 March 2011 3.e. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, Gabriel thenthe baby givesleaped morein her womb, news to and Elizabeth Mary, Lk 1:36,was filled 39 with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she Even Elizabeth exclaimed: your are “Blessed relative is you among going women, to and haveblessed a child isinthe herchild old you age...At will bear!that Buttime why Mary am I so gotfavored, ready that the andmother hurriedof tomya Lord townshould in the come hilltocountry me? of Judea, And God ininhis JTB jumps hisgrace mothers giveswomb, further two women confirmation are brought to together by theLuke Mary, 1: 41-43 Holy Spirit and Elizabeth Mary Elizabeth confirms the move of God to Mary Winstead - an actress Wednesday 23 March 2011 3.e. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, Gabriel thenthe baby givesleaped morein her womb, news to and Elizabeth Mary, Lk 1:36,was filled 39 with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she Even Elizabeth exclaimed: your are “Blessed relative is you among going women, to and haveblessed a child isinthe herchild old you age...At will bear!that Buttime why Mary am I so gotfavored, ready that the andmother hurriedof tomya Lord townshould in the come hilltocountry me? of Judea, And God ininhis JTB jumps hisgrace mothers giveswomb, further two women confirmation are brought to together by theLuke Mary, 1: 41-43 Holy Spirit and Elizabeth Mary Elizabeth confirms the move of God to Mary Winstead - an actress Wednesday 23 March 2011 4. The incarnation reveals the veracity of God Veracity - conformity to facts: accuracy: habitual truthfulness God speaks truth, he does not lie - Matthew is full of fulfilled prophecy / events 1:22-23, 2:5-6, 2:15, 2:17 All of these things were predicted hundreds of years before the events took place. Wednesday 23 March 2011 4. The incarnation reveals the veracity of God Micah Veracity -5:2 But you,toOfacts: conformity Bethlehem Ephrathah, accuracy: habitual who are too truthfulness little God tospeaks be among truth,theheclans doesof Judah, from you shall not lie - Matthew is full ofcome forth for me one who is to be ruler in fulfilled prophecy / events Israel, whose coming forth is from 1:22-23, of old, from 2:5-6, 2:15, ancient days. 2:17 Bethlehem was small and All of these things insignificant - God wereis specific, predicted showing his hundreds veracity of years - the other before option, thethe events took are ‘prophecies’ place. written after the events. Wednesday 23 March 2011 5. Son of God, son of Man Jesus gets these two titles because of the incarnation. Neither denies the truthfulness of the other. Son of Man means Jesus bears all the hallmarks of humanity, fully human, without the sin. Son of God does not mean he is less than God - he shows fully all the qualities of God. This is the hypostatic union - the full nature of God and of man in one person Wednesday 23 March 2011 5. Son of God, son of Man Jesus gets these two titles because of the incarnation. Neither denies the truthfulness of the other. Son of Man means Jesus bears all the hallmarks of humanity, fully human, without the sin. Son of God does not mean he is less than God - he shows fully all the qualities of God. This is the hypostatic union - the full nature of God and of man in one person Wednesday 23 March 2011 6. The glory of the incarnation All of God was in Christ, appointed for salvation, all of man was in Jesus, representative = Jesus Christ. Jesus is one of a kind - Jn 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Word expresses thought - Jesus is the perfect expression of God yet distinct from him and equal with him
Wednesday 23 March 2011
6. The 6.a. gloryGlorious of the incarnation Lord All of God was in Christ, appointed for salvation, all of man was in Jesus, representative = Jesus Christ. Jesus is one of a kind - Jn 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Word expresses thought - Jesus is the perfect expression of God yet distinct from him and equal with him
Wednesday 23 March 2011
6. The 6.a. gloryGlorious of the incarnation Lord All of God was in Christ, appointed for salvation, all of Verse man was 3 - inAllJesus, things were made through him, and=without representative him Jesus Christ. was not any thing made that was Jesus made. is one of a kind - Jn 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the14 Verse Word- Andwasthewith Word God, and became the Wordflesh was andGod.dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, Word glory asexpresses of the onlythought Son from- the Jesus Father,isfull theofperfect grace andexpression truth. of God yet distinct from him and equal with him
Wednesday 23 March 2011
6.b. God in Flesh John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. Jesus came to earth so that men could understand God, to know and love him in terms we might grasp. God the Father has never been human - he has never experienced the things you do, he is omni everything - but Jesus did, he was poor, had needs, was tired etc. Jesus makes sense of God to us, and sense of us to God - he fully understands and fully experiences both sides. 1Tim 2:5 Wednesday 23 March 2011 6.c. The slave-man Philippians 2 explains how Jesus became God and man - v. 5-8 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was inthe form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Wednesday 23 March 2011 6.c. The slave-man So much; pre-existence Philippians 2 explainsofhow Jesus, Jesus emptying became God doesandnotmanmean- v.he5-8 ceased to be God; deity in human flesh. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, Bond which isservant = doulos yours in Christ - slave Jesus, 6 who, man, thoughthe helowest in the was inthe formRoman of God, did empire, not countJesus did with equality not just God become a thing to human but 7but be grasped, becamemadea slave. himselfSo low that everyone nothing, is covered taking the form of ainservant, his grace. being born in the likeness of men. 8And on Died being found =inas a cross human form, he a criminal humbled Jesus hadhimself by becoming to be fully God - only obedient God can tosave, the and pointfully of death, man -even only death man canon adiecross. Wednesday 23 March 2011 7. Lessons from the incarnation How do we respond to the God-man? Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." The magi were astronomers watching the skies - knowing Numbers 24:17 - a star shall come out of Jacob, - they travelled 18 months to see Jesus, they paid a massive price to worship Jesus - the religious community didn’t even know he had been on their doorstep for a year and half. What price do you pay to worship? Wednesday 23 March 2011 7. Lessons7.a. fromWorship the incarnation How do we respond to the God-man? Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." The magi were astronomers watching the skies - knowing Numbers 24:17 - a star shall come out of Jacob, - they travelled 18 months to see Jesus, they paid a massive price to worship Jesus - the religious community didn’t even know he had been on their doorstep for a year and half. What price do you pay to worship? Wednesday 23 March 2011 7.b. God’s will “God if you can arrange history like this I can trust you to arrange my life and lead me where you want me to go” God used an ungodly king and ungodly preachers to lead worshippers to Jesus. Trust God in the general and he will then lead you in specifics - the wise men followed a star (general) and God took care of the details in his time. Wednesday 23 March 2011 7.b. God’s will “God if you can arrange history like this I can trust you to arrange my life and lead me where you want me Ifto you go” want God to lead you: God used an ungodly king and ungodly preachers to lead Are you worshippers to Jesus. already doing Trust what God in the generalGod and he willhasthen told lead you you in to? specifics the wise men followed a star -
(general) and God took care of
the details in his time. Wednesday 23 March 2011 7.c. God’s sufficiency Gold = money Frankincense = expensive spice Myrrh = embalming fluid, Jesus was born to die (just like the strips which swathed his body as a baby) These gifts would also have helped as this very poor family fled to Egypt. The wise men went home another way - sent by God - thus protecting Jesus Wednesday 23 March 2011 7.d. God’s judgement Matt 2:16-18 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more." Wednesday 23 March 2011 Rachel (buried near Bethlehem) was considered the mother of Israel “give me children lest I die”, she took a long time to have children and in Jer. 32 they are dying or being taken into captivity - judgement. This is further fulfilled in Jesus’ day as the people reject God and ignore the incarnate Christ. Heb 10:26 The incarnation is not simply God with us - but God demanding our response, our allegiance Wednesday 23 March 2011 Responding to the incarnation 1. How costly is your worship? (mental, spiritual, physical cost) 2. Are you being obedient to what God has already said to do? 3. Do you see God’s sufficiency in your life? Are you trying to run ahead of God, or lagging behind? 4. Is Jesus really your Lord and Saviour?