December 31, 2023

Go Tell It!

Our 9:00 am Traditional Service: https://www.facebook.com/BRBUMC/videos/260430590172772

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INCARNATION.  That is what the Advent and Christmas seasons are about…INCARNATION.  So, what is incarnation and why should we care?

INCARNATION is the idea that God became a human being…that God took on flesh and blood and lives in our midst.  In Jesus Christ, God became fully human, and lived among us.

How did this happen?  Well, for starters God gave us His law as found in the first five books of the Bible.  We find here such wonderous teachings as the ten commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5).  But humanity, people, you and I needed more.  We didn’t seem to get it, although God gave us plenty of opportunity to try.

So, God sent prophets (quite a number of them) to show us what it means to live a godly life, and if the teachings of one prophet didn’t work, God would send another and then another.  There was Amos, then Hosen, then Isaiah (actually in the Book of Isaiah we can find the teaching of at least two or three different prophets).  Jeremiah must be listed, and this page could be filled with many more.

We didn’t listen to them very well either.  In fact, some were run out of town, some were jailed, some were even put to death.

Mixed in with all of the prophets, there was history itself.  Kings were raised up, people like David, Isaiah and Ezekiel.  But most of the kings were rotten, even causing the split of Israel into two nations (north and south) occasionally even fighting each other.

And of course, Israel and Judah were in the midst of huge empires that harassed them continually.  First there was Egypt who early on held them in bondage.  Then there was Assyria who conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, gobbling up the ten northern tribes (the “ten lost tribes”).  Later on the Babylonia conquered Judah, taking the important people into exile for 70 years.  Persia’s defeat of the Babylonians made it possible for the exiles to return home.  But of course, the little country would have to deal with Greeks, and later the Romans.

Finally, God looked at the mess that humanity had made, and said to Himself (I’m sure), I’m going to have to go down there myself.”  Hence, ta dah!  INCARNATION.

God came in Jesus becoming a human being, living the life of a human being.  He was born as a wee, helpless baby.  He faced a life similar in many ways to the life we live.  He was raised in a family with brothers and sisters….INCARNATION. 

He remained a part of that family until he was about 30, perhaps as the head of that family after his “father” Joseph apparently died (the scriptures are silent about this).  Then at 30, he began his ministry, teaching the word of God to all who would receive it. And many refused his teaching, hence he gave his life on the cross.

Of course, the story doesn’t end there, does it?  But why all of this?  And why INCARNATION?

John’s gospel makes it clear (remember John 3:16).  God loved the world so much…despite our misconceptions; despite our sins; despite our likelihood to turn our back on Him.  God loves you and me so much…so much…so much…that He walked this earth in the flesh of Jesus  (INCARNATION) living for us, teaching us, reaching out to us, even dying for us.  And even that is not the end of the story.

The story begins all over again with Jesus’ Resurrection and continues to our day and beyond.  Praise God!   – Paul Bond