The devotional during the conference weeks, this week and next week, will be geared towards cementing the themes we have been talking about throughout this campaign. This week we will look back at the incarnation then next week we will look to Romans 12-16.
Let's think back to our Advent series where we talked about the incarnation of Jesus. Remember the incarnation refers to the "infleshing" of God—God becoming man in the person of Jesus. One of the most direct teachings on this in the NT is found in the first chapter of John's gospel.
John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John says that the Word (Jesus, see John 1:1) became flesh. The became is really important. This indicates a fundamental change in his nature. He didn't just appear to take on human form. In the dualistic Greek world of the day that wouldn't be uncommon at all. The Gnostics (a prevalent early church heresy that attempted to blend Christian thought with Greek pagan religious categories) would expect the gods to do that often. However, a god becoming a man is akin to heresy in Gnostic thought.
This also gives great credibility to the material world. The Gnostics believed that the material world was evil and the spiritual is good. The Christian view challenges that by the simple assertion that God, the one true God of the universe, became man.
In this change to his nature we must also note that this is solely an addition to his nature, not a subtraction (Phil. 2:6-8). When Jesus incarnates he doesn't become less God to make room for him to become more human. He remains fully God, just has he becomes fully man. In the words of the ancient church from the Council of Chalcedon in the 5th century these two natures remain un-mingled in one person. This is what's known as the hypostatic union. Despite how much it sounds like a superhero Jesus, quite literally becomes the God-man.
As the author of Hebrews clearly articulates, it was absolutely necessary for Jesus to be both God and man in order to mediate the new covenant between humanity and God. As a man he can relate to our weaknesses and yet be without sin. He can identify with humans. As God he can be the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world. He has the authority to forgive sins because it is he whom humans have offended. Both aspects of his nature are necessary.
Hebrews 2:17 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
I know this is strange, but when we ponder the mystery of the hypostatic union we can appreciate the perfection of God's plan of redemption and cherish the humility of our savior.
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Reflection
Spend some time reflecting on the theology of the incarnation. Think of the mystery and beauty of God's plan of redemption by way of the incarnate Son of God.