Incarnation: God with Us

The central message of Christmas is the incarnation - the presence of God in human form. Jesus, the infinite God and creator of the universe stepped out of eternity and into time. He stepped out of heaven and onto earth. He stepped aside from His role as our master to become the servant of God the Father.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).

The incarnation is reflected in His name - Immanuel. This name was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).

In all four Gospels, John the Baptist is identified as the messenger spoken of in Isaiah 40:3. “For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord [Yehovah], Make His paths straight!’” (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4-6; John 1:23).

By tradition Bible translators rendered God’s name – Yehovah, as “the Lord.” Both God the Father and Jesus are referred to as “Lord.” Modern Christians hear this verse and assume it is saying, “prepare the way for the messiah.” However, a first century observant Jewish believer would hear it as “Prepare the way of Yehovah.”

The incarnate God was the God of Abrham, Issac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6); the God of creation (Genesis 1); the God who spoke to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:6); Whose voice was heard at Mt. Sinai at the giving of the law (Exodus 20:1-18); the God who lead His people in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22), brought them into the Promised land (Joshua 1-12) and taught them through the prophets (Hebrews 1:1).

Isaiah 9:6 speaks of the incarnation, “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

A “child” being born speaks of His humanity. A “Son” being given is a reference to His being the only begotten Son of God and therefore identifies His deity. “Wonderful” comes from the Hebrew word meaning “miracles” which refers to the virgin birth and the miracles He would perform. “Counselor” affirms that fact that in Jesus “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Most importantly this “child” is the “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father.” Paul summarized Jesus’ dual nature, “[Jesus] was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:3-4).