Read: John 1:1-14
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. (v. 14)
The incarnation, in the end, is simply mystery. Even though we can never explain the way God became a human being, poetic voices have painted with words that help us imagine. The Gospel writer John says: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Charles Wesley penned: “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see.” Chris Rice wrote: “Wrap our injured flesh around You, / Breathe our air and walk our sod.”
The idea of God wrapping our injured flesh around himself is particularly powerful. Jesus once said there is no greater gift than to lay down your life for your friends; consider how that is not only the gift of his crucifixion, but the gift of his incarnation as well. Jesus didn’t just lay down his earthly life, he laid down his heavenly life for this messy world in an act of perfect self-discipline. Scripture says Jesus learned obedience by the things that he suffered (Heb. 5:8), so as Advent draws to a close, ponder what suffering may have been involved before Jesus was gently laid in that manger. May a fresh gratitude for the incarnation dawn as we celebrate his coming.
Prayer: Giver of good gifts, forgive me for viewing the incarnation as I might a fairy tale. Your willingness to be wrapped in my injured flesh was a costly gift, and I honor and love you for becoming more like me, so that I could become more like you.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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