One Solitary Life He was born in an obscure village, the son 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.
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.
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.
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.
The Incarnation of God
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.
Isaiah 9:6-7 7:14 - Therefore the For Lord to himself us a child will is give born, you a to sign. us a son Behold, is given; the virgin and shall the government conceive shall and bear be upon a son, his and shoulder, shall call and his his name name shall Immanuel. be called Wonderful Counselor, Matt 1:23 Mighty - they God, shall Everlasting call his Father, name Immanuel" Prince of Peace. (which means, Of God the with increase us). of his government and Theologically of peace there this is will the be no end,on incarnation the throne (from of David the Latin and over for flesh) his kingdom, or enfleshment to establish it of and God to - uphold God became it with justice a man! and with This righteousness has to be one from of the this time forth greatest and miracles forevermore. ever.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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 both Now were it was advanced God s time in years. for their child to be the forerunner of There were 20,000 priests - the the Christ chances of being selected are low unless God is moving
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.
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!"
3.c. The visitation to Mary We Luke see 1:30-33 a greater show of God s power And the in angel Jesus said having to her, no "Do human not be father. afraid, Mary, for you have found Luke favor with 1:26-28 God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a In son, the and sixth you month shall call the his angel name Gabriel was Jesus. sent He from will be God great to a and city will of be Galilee called the named Son of Nazareth, the Most to High. a virgin And betrothed the Lord God to a will man give whose to him name the was Joseph, throne of of his the father house David, of David. and And he the will reign virgin s over name the was house Mary. of Jacob And he came forever, to and her of and his said, kingdom "Greetings, there will O favored be no end." one, the Lord is with you!"
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.
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
3.e. Mary s visit to Elizabeth When Elizabeth heard Mary s Gabriel greeting, then baby gives leaped more in her news womb, to and Mary, Elizabeth Lk 1:36, was filled 39 with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she Even exclaimed: Elizabeth Blessed your are relative you among is going women, to and have blessed a child is in the her child old you age...at will bear! that But time why Mary am I so got favored, ready that the and mother hurried of to my a Lord town should in the come hill to country me? of Judea, And JTB jumps God in in his his grace mothers gives womb, further two women confirmation are brought to together Mary, by the Luke Holy Spirit 1: 41-43 and Elizabeth confirms the move of God to Mary Mary Elizabeth Winstead - an actress
3.e. Mary s visit to Elizabeth When Elizabeth heard Mary s Gabriel greeting, then baby gives leaped more in her news womb, to and Mary, Elizabeth Lk 1:36, was filled 39 with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she Even exclaimed: Elizabeth Blessed your are relative you among is going women, to and have blessed a child is in the her child old you age...at will bear! that But time why Mary am I so got favored, ready that the and mother hurried of to my a Lord town should in the come hill to country me? of Judea, And JTB jumps God in in his his grace mothers gives womb, further two women confirmation are brought to together Mary, by the Luke Holy Spirit 1: 41-43 and Elizabeth confirms the move of God to Mary Mary Elizabeth Winstead - an actress
4. The incarnation reveals the 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. veracity of God
4. The incarnation reveals the veracity of God Veracity Micah - 5:2 conformity But you, to O facts: accuracy: Bethlehem habitual Ephrathah, truthfulness who are too God little to speaks be among truth, the he clans does of not Judah, lie from - Matthew you shall come is full forth of fulfilled for me one prophecy who is to be / events ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from 1:22-23, of old, from 2:5-6, ancient days. 2:15, 2:17 Bethlehem was small and All insignificant of these things - God were is specific, predicted showing his hundreds veracity of - the years other before option, the events prophecies took are place. written after the events.
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
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
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
6. The 6.a. glory Glorious 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
6. The 6.a. glory Glorious of the incarnation Lord All of God was in Christ, appointed for salvation, all of man Verse was 3 - in All Jesus, things were made representative through him, and = without Jesus Christ. him was not any thing made that was Jesus made. is one of a kind - Jn 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and Verse the 14 Word - And was the with Word God, and the became Word flesh was and God. dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, Word glory as expresses of the only thought Son from - the Jesus Father, is full the of perfect grace and expression truth. of God yet distinct from him and equal with him
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
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.
6.c. The slave-man Philippians So much; pre-existence 2 explains of how Jesus, Jesus became emptying God does and not man mean - v. he 5-8 ceased to be God; deity in human flesh. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which Bond is servant yours in Christ = doulos Jesus, - slave 6 who, though man, the he lowest was inthe the form Roman of God, did not empire, count Jesus equality did with not just God become a thing to be human grasped, but 7but became made a slave. himself So low nothing, that everyone taking the is covered form of a in servant, his being grace. born in the likeness of men. 8And Died on being a cross found = in as human a criminal form, he humbled Jesus had himself to be fully by becoming God - only obedient God can to save, the and point fully of death, man - even only death man can on a die cross.
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?
7. Lessons 7.a. from Worship 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?
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.
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 If you go want God to lead you: God used an ungodly king and ungodly preachers to lead worshippers to Jesus. Are you already doing what God 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. has told you to?
Gold = money 7.c. God s sufficiency 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
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."
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
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?