The Awe of the Incarnation: God Among Us
Summary
In reflecting on the profound mystery of the Incarnation, we are drawn to the awe-inspiring truth that God Himself came to dwell among us. This is not merely a story or a myth, but a historical fact that reshaped the course of human history. The temple built by Solomon, as described in 1 Kings 8, serves as a powerful Old Testament illustration of God's desire to dwell with His people. Yet, even Solomon marveled at the thought that the God of the universe could be contained within a temple. This wonder is magnified infinitely in the New Testament revelation that God became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Incarnation is the ultimate expression of God's love and humility. The eternal Son of God, who existed in the form of God, did not cling to His divine privileges but emptied Himself, taking on human form. This self-abnegation is a profound mystery, as the Creator of the universe was confined to a human body, born in a humble stable, and laid in a manger. This act of divine condescension was not a mere appearance or theophany but a real and tangible presence among us.
The purpose of this divine dwelling is to bring us into communion with God. Just as the temple was a place where the Israelites could meet with God, Jesus is the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has made a way for us to approach God, receive forgiveness, and experience the fullness of life in Him. This is the heart of the Christmas message: God came to us so that we might come to Him.
Our response to this incredible truth should be one of amazement, worship, and rejoicing. Like the shepherds who first heard the angelic announcement, we are invited to come and see the wonder of God made flesh and to leave rejoicing in the salvation He has provided. This Christmas, let us be filled with awe at the unspeakable gift of God dwelling among us and respond with hearts full of praise and gratitude.
Key Takeaways:
- The Incarnation is a historical fact, not a myth or fairy tale. It is the literal event of God the Son coming to dwell among us, reshaping history and our understanding of God's presence. [08:29]
- The marvel of the Incarnation is that the infinite God, whom the heavens cannot contain, chose to be confined to a human body, born in a humble setting, to dwell among us. This is a profound mystery that should fill us with awe. [14:43]
- The purpose of the Incarnation is to bring us into communion with God. Jesus is the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity, providing a way for us to approach God and receive forgiveness and new life. [25:22]
- Our response to the Incarnation should be one of amazement, worship, and rejoicing. Like the shepherds, we are invited to come and see the wonder of God made flesh and to leave rejoicing in the salvation He has provided. [33:19]
- The Incarnation reveals God's immense love and humility. The eternal Son of God emptied Himself, taking on human form, to dwell among us and bring us into a relationship with God. This act of divine condescension is the heart of the Christmas message. [19:13]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to the Temple and Solomon
- [01:25] - The Dedication of the Temple
- [03:06] - Solomon's Astonishment
- [05:08] - The Central Message of Christmas
- [07:36] - The Word Made Flesh
- [09:27] - Theophany vs. Incarnation
- [11:25] - The Marvel of the Incarnation
- [14:20] - God Confined to the Virgin's Womb
- [17:20] - The Humility of Christ
- [21:00] - Sharing Life with Humanity
- [23:25] - Purpose of the Incarnation
- [26:30] - Meeting God Through Christ
- [31:13] - Forgiveness and New Life in Christ
- [32:44] - Our Response: Amazement and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Profound Mystery of the Incarnation
Bible Reading:
- 1 Kings 8:27
- John 1:14
- Philippians 2:5-8
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Observation Questions:
1. In 1 Kings 8:27, Solomon expresses astonishment at the idea of God dwelling on earth. What does this reveal about Solomon's understanding of God's nature? [03:22]
2. According to John 1:14, what does it mean that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us"? How does this relate to the concept of the Incarnation? [07:36]
3. How does Philippians 2:5-8 describe the humility and self-abnegation of Jesus in the Incarnation? What specific actions did Jesus take to demonstrate this humility? [19:13]
4. What was the purpose of the temple as described in 1 Kings 8, and how does this purpose relate to the Incarnation of Jesus? [23:25]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the historical fact of the Incarnation challenge or affirm your understanding of God's presence in the world? [08:29]
2. In what ways does the Incarnation reveal the depth of God's love and humility, as described in Philippians 2:5-8? How does this impact your view of Jesus' mission on earth? [19:13]
3. The sermon mentions that Jesus is the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity. How does this concept change the way we approach God in prayer and worship? [25:22]
4. Reflect on the response of amazement and worship to the Incarnation. How does this response align with the reactions of the shepherds and others who first witnessed Jesus' birth? [33:19]
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Application Questions:
1. The Incarnation is described as a historical fact that reshaped history. How does this understanding influence the way you celebrate Christmas? What specific traditions or practices could you incorporate to reflect this truth? [08:29]
2. Reflect on the humility of Christ as described in Philippians 2:5-8. In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride, and how can you practice humility in those areas this week? [19:13]
3. The sermon emphasizes the purpose of the Incarnation as bringing us into communion with God. How can you deepen your relationship with God this week? Consider setting aside specific times for prayer or Bible study. [25:22]
4. Like the shepherds, we are invited to respond to the Incarnation with amazement and worship. What are some practical ways you can express your gratitude and worship to God during this Christmas season? [33:19]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of recognizing the Incarnation as a profound mystery. How can you cultivate a sense of wonder and awe in your daily life? Consider journaling or meditating on the attributes of God. [14:43]
6. The Incarnation reveals God's immense love for humanity. How can you demonstrate this love to others in your community? Identify one person you can reach out to with an act of kindness or service this week. [19:13]
7. Reflect on the idea that Jesus is the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity. How can this truth transform the way you approach challenges or difficulties in your life? [25:22]
Devotional
Day 1: The Incarnation as Historical Reality
The Incarnation is not a myth or fairy tale but a historical event that reshaped the course of human history. It is the literal event of God the Son coming to dwell among us, demonstrating God's profound desire to be present with His creation. This truth challenges us to see the Incarnation as the pivotal moment in history where God intervened in the most personal way. The reality of God becoming flesh is a cornerstone of Christian faith, inviting believers to live in the light of this transformative truth. [08:29]
"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 1:14, ESV)
Reflection: How does acknowledging the Incarnation as a historical fact change the way you view your relationship with God today?
Day 2: The Marvel of God's Humility
The marvel of the Incarnation lies in the infinite God choosing to be confined to a human body, born in a humble setting. This profound mystery should fill us with awe, as it reveals the depth of God's love and humility. The Creator of the universe willingly limited Himself to human form, experiencing life as we do, to bring us closer to Him. This act of divine condescension is not just a theological concept but a reality that invites us to marvel at God's willingness to meet us where we are. [14:43]
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a sense of awe and wonder at the humility of God in your daily life?
Day 3: Communion with God Through Christ
The purpose of the Incarnation is to bring us into communion with God. Jesus serves as the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity, providing a way for us to approach God and receive forgiveness and new life. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has made it possible for us to experience the fullness of life in Him. This truth invites us to embrace the relationship God offers and to live in the reality of His presence. [25:22]
"For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to deepen your communion with God today through prayer, worship, or reading Scripture?
Day 4: Responding with Amazement and Worship
Our response to the Incarnation should be one of amazement, worship, and rejoicing. Like the shepherds who first heard the angelic announcement, we are invited to come and see the wonder of God made flesh and to leave rejoicing in the salvation He has provided. This response is not just for the Christmas season but is a daily invitation to live in gratitude and praise for the gift of God's presence among us. [33:19]
"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." (Luke 2:20, ESV)
Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to express your amazement and worship for the Incarnation?
Day 5: The Heart of the Christmas Message
The Incarnation reveals God's immense love and humility. The eternal Son of God emptied Himself, taking on human form, to dwell among us and bring us into a relationship with God. This act of divine condescension is the heart of the Christmas message, reminding us of the lengths God went to in order to be with us. It calls us to reflect on the depth of God's love and to respond by sharing that love with others. [19:13]
"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." (1 John 4:9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you share the love and humility of Christ with someone in your life today?
Quotes
What happened that Christmas was that God came down to dwell on earth. Remember hearing of an old preacher, an old Welsh preacher, preaching on this very text that I'm trying to preach on this morning, and he handled it like this. He first of all gave out his text, and the Welsh translation would go something like this: "Is it true indeed that God will dwell on the earth?" [00:05:18]
This is the truth, that God the Son, the second person in the Blessed Holy Trinity, has literally and actually come down to dwell amongst men. It's not a story, not fancy, it's not a figment of the imagination. We are dealing here with sure history, solid fact, the same sort of thing as we record when we say Julius Caesar conquered this country in 55 BC. [00:08:29]
The marvel of the fact that was the thing, of course, that was in the mind of Solomon. That's the thing he couldn't get over. Is this possible? Why? Well, he gives the reason. He says, "Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded." [00:11:27]
The heaven, the heavens of heavens, can contain thee, but the Virgin's womb did contain him. The Virgin's womb, the everlasting Son, the Word, the one through whom, as we've been reminded, all things were made, and without whom was nothing made that is made, the sustainer of everything, has been confined to the Virgin's womb. [00:14:20]
Though he was equal with God, he counted it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation. There it is. He was equal with God. He was in the form of God. He'd been that from eternity. In the beginning was the Word. He always was coequal, coeternal with the Father. [00:19:13]
The whole object and purpose of the temple was that it should be a place of worship. It should be a place where the people could meet not only together but to meet with God. They went there to meet with God. That's the object. That is the ultimate purpose, that they might have communion with him. [00:23:25]
What's the object of the Incarnation? Why did the Son of God ever come down on earth to dwell? Why was Jesus ever born at Bethlehem? What's the object of this? What's the purpose? Why did God send His only Son here into this world? And the answer, you see, is still the same: this is the object, that we might meet with God. [00:25:22]
Our Lord Himself said it. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." It is only in him and through him that you can meet the Father. The Apostle Peter, in writing his first epistle in chapter 3, verse 18, says exactly the same thing. [00:27:30]
He was born to die. He was born to sacrifice himself for us and our sins. He was born for the suffering of death, that he might taste death for every man. He was born that he might be made the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, and that's the only way whereby we can meet God. [00:28:38]
What is our response to this? What should be our response to this? Well, it's shown, it's prefigured in this Old Testament. It should be amazement. Will God indeed dwell on the earth in order that I may meet with him? Is it possible? Can it happen? Amazement. Solomon was amazed that God should meet in the Shekinah glory with his people in the temple. [00:33:19]
Are you filled with amazement this morning? Is that your supreme feeling, amazement at the fact that God has so loved you that he has come down into the Virgin's womb in order to meet with you? Come to the cross, fixed, nailed to the cross, immovable, the one who created everything and who controls everything. [00:35:02]
Rejoicing that God has visited and redeemed his people, rejoicing that you know God is your Father, that you know your sins are forgiven, that you know that you're a joint heir with Christ of the everlasting glory that is coming, rejoicing and praising him who alone is worthy to be praised. [00:37:30]
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