Taking Comfort in the Incarnation

Transcript:

Many of us are stressed—troubled by social, financial, physical and even spiritual trials. Where should we turn for help? There is no better place than the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of the incarnation speaks of the great mystery that, in Christ, all of God has come to us as a true human being. The fullness of God has become a member of our human race. In other words, in classical Christian theology, God is not a being that is distant and removed from human troubles. He is not “the man upstairs”. Rather, he is the man who lived among us. This means that God has experienced firsthand all our trials. He knows what it is like to feel pain and disease, to feel the rejection of a friend, to feel temptation, to feel the onslaught of anxiety, to experience poverty and loss, to face what feels like insurmountable circumstances.

Yet, the Bible likewise tells us that Jesus experienced all this without sin. Not once did he ever fail to trust His heavenly Father.

This means that Jesus both totally “gets us”, and can totally save us. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way:

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Are you troubled, needing comfort? Ponder the incarnation of Christ!

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 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. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

~ Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV)