When we think about the birth of Jesus, it’s easy to picture it as the beginning of His story. But the Apostle John reminds us of a powerful truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Jesus didn’t begin in Bethlehem—He has always existed as God. Before time, before creation, He was there. His birth wasn’t His start; it was His entry into the world He created.
Imagine an author writing a story and then stepping into the pages themselves — not as a distant creator but as one of the characters. That’s what Jesus did. He entered His creation, fully God and fully man, to accomplish His Father’s plan of salvation. He didn’t lose His divinity, but He humbled Himself to walk among us, to experience life as we do, and ultimately to save us.
This is the beauty of the Incarnation. From a Christian perspective, "incarnation" refers to the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. It teaches that Jesus, while remaining fully divine, also took on a fully human nature in order to live among us and ultimately provide salvation through his life, death, and resurrection. This concept is central to Christian theology, emphasizing God's deep love and commitment to humanity.
God Himself came near, not as a distant figure, but as Emmanuel—God with us. It’s an eternal truth that fills us with awe and sets the stage for everything else we’ll explore.
The Incarnation is one of the greatest mysteries of our faith. How could Jesus be fully God and fully man at the same time? The Apostle Paul said it plainly: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) Jesus didn’t give up His divine nature when He became human. He was still fully God—still infinite, eternal, and holy—but He also took on human flesh to bridge the gap between us and God.
It’s like light passing through a prism. The light itself doesn’t change, but it’s seen in a new way. In the same way, Jesus—the eternal God—stepped into humanity, making Himself visible and relatable to us.
And He didn’t just come as a man; He came as a servant. Paul tells us that “though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2:6–7) He set aside His power and glory to live humbly among us, experiencing the struggles and limitations of being human.
Picture a king who removes his royal robes and walks among his people—not as their ruler, but as one of them. That’s what Jesus did. He didn’t come to demand honor or loyalty; He came to serve, to teach, and to redeem. It’s a mystery that should leave us in awe—God becoming fully human without ever ceasing to be fully God, all for our sake.
The arrival of Jesus didn’t happen in a vacuum. God prepared the way for His Son’s coming through the prophets and, ultimately, through John the Baptist. The prophets were like architects laying the foundation for a great cathedral. They didn’t see the completed structure, but they laid the groundwork by pointing people toward the coming Messiah. God’s words to the Prophet Malachi captures this beautifully: “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.” (Malachi 3:1)
These prophets called people to repentance and faith, helping them recognize their need for salvation. Their words stirred hearts and built anticipation for the One who would bring God’s promises to life.
Then came John the Baptist, the final messenger. Prophecy was fulfilled in John, says, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” (Isaiah 40:3) John’s mission was clear—he was the herald announcing the King’s arrival. Like a town crier proclaiming the entrance of a great leader, John called people to repent and prepare their hearts for the Messiah.
This preparation reminds us that Jesus’ coming wasn’t accidental or rushed. It was planned and intentional, giving humanity the opportunity to hear, reflect, and respond. God, in His wisdom, ensured that hearts would be ready to receive His Son. It’s a reminder that even today, we need to prepare our own hearts for His presence.
When we think about why Jesus became fully God and fully man, the reasons are both profound and deeply personal. First, He came to reveal God’s nature. John tells us, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) It’s like a translator making a foreign language understandable—Jesus made God’s character accessible to us, showing us His grace, truth, and glory in a way we could grasp.
But that wasn’t all. Jesus also came to die for our sins as the perfect substitute. Luke records Jesus saying“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” (Luke 19:10). Imagine a spotless lamb being offered as a sacrifice—Jesus’ humanity allowed Him to represent us, and His divinity made His sacrifice sufficient to cover all sin.
Jesus didn’t just come to save us but to show us how to live. Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:15) Like a master craftsman teaching an apprentice, He demonstrated what it means to live in obedience, humility, and love.
And through all of this, Jesus fulfilled God’s promises and prophecies. He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” It’s like waiting for years for a promise to come true—and then seeing it perfectly fulfilled. Jesus proved that God is faithful.
Finally, Jesus came to demonstrate God’s love and humility. Paul wrote “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.[11] It’s like a parent giving up everything for their child—Jesus showed us the depth of God’s sacrificial love.
Each of these reasons reveals the heart of God and His incredible plan for our redemption. Jesus came to show us who God is, to save us, to teach us, and to prove God’s faithfulness and love. It’s overwhelming when we stop to think about it—and it changes everything.
Reflecting on the Incarnation and the eternal life for us it promises, I recall a vivid childhood memory that fills me with awe. At six years old, my dad, a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant was transferred to Hawaii. When we arrived my family and I visited the Nuʻuanu Pali Mountain Lookout on Oahu. It is high, 1,200 feet above the ocean that you can see below. Driving up the winding road, we reached the summit, where the view was breathtaking. The wind was so strong that there were stories of people jumping off the side of the overlook to commit suicide and being blown back. I was a small six-year-old boy. Standing there, gazing down from such a height, feeling the powerful wind, my body trembled with wonder and joy.
This experience mirrors the awe we should feel when contemplating the Incarnation. As Paul exclaims, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”[12] The profound humility and love Christ demonstrated by becoming fully God and fully man is truly beyond comprehension.
But the story doesn’t end there. Just as we celebrate His first coming, we eagerly anticipate His return. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”[13] It’s like preparing for a long-awaited reunion with a dear friend, our hearts filled with joyful anticipation.
Considering this, I strive to live each day with readiness and faith, honoring the gift of His first coming and looking forward with hope to His return.
Finally, let’s reflect on the profound truth of the Incarnation: Jesus, fully God and fully man, humbled Himself to become a servant for our salvation. Paul reminds us, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:6–7)
This act of humility calls us to worship and fills us with anticipation. We rejoice in His first coming and eagerly await His return, when we will be transformed to be like Him. Paul assures us that Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:21) Just as Jesus assumed our mortal form, at His second coming, we will assume the immortal form that He now possesses.
In light of this, let’s live with hope and readiness, embracing the joy of His first advent and the promise of our future transformation. Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the incredible gift of the Incarnation, for Jesus’ humility in becoming one of us, and for the promise of our transformation at His return. Fill our hearts with awe, our lives with worship, and our spirits with anticipation as we await the fulfillment of Your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Since it is sometimes hard to get to a church service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I offer the following as a way to help keep Jesus Christ the focus of this special time of year.