" The Wonder of the Incarnation "

John 1:14   " 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. "

1st.Timothy 3:16   " And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in the flesh, justified in the SPIRIT, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. "

     Contemplate the wonder of the incarnation: " The WORD was GOD . . . And the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us : (John 1:1, 14). The infinite GOD became a MAN. The eternal ONE stepped into time (Galatians 4:4). The GOD WHO never had a beginning and WHO always existed was born as an INFANT (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14). The ALMIGHTY rested as a dependent BABY in the arms of Mary. The CREATOR of all things was laid in a receptacle made to hold food for animals (Luke 2:12). The ONE WHO was " high and lifted up " (Isaiah 6:1) was placed in a lowly manger and greeted by lowly shepherds. Perhaps the most wondrous fact of the incarnation was that it made it possible for the IMMORTAL ONE to die. The living GOD cannot die. Man's sin deserved and demanded death (Romans 1:32; 6:23), thus dooming man to an eternal destiny separated from the LORD of Life (Isaiah 59:2; 2nd.Thessalonians 1:8-9).

     GOD, in HIS love, devised a way to provide Salvation for sinful man without compromising HIS OWN just and righteous character. Serving as man's SUBSTITUTE, HE HIMSELF would pay the death penalty for sinful man. In order for this to be done, GOD had to become a MAN, " that HE by the grace of GOD should taste death for every man " (Hebrews 2:9). The IMMORTAL GOD cannot die, but HE took upon HIMSELF humanity so that, as the GOD-MAN, HE could die and did die for our sins (1st.Corinthians 15:3; 1st.Peter 3:18). HIS saving work was accomplished, not in Bethlehem's cradle, but on Golgotha's cross. HIS birth made HIS death possible; HIS death made our Salvation possible. Praise the LORD for HIS condescending love and grace by which HE stooped so low in order to raise us so high (2nd.Corinthians 8:9) ! GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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