Advent
and Incarnation
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this
way…
–Matthew
1.18a
This season is observed in many churches as a time
of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus,
a season called “Advent,” from the Latin word, adventus, which means “coming.” Adventus,
in turn, is a translation of the Greek word parousia,
which commonly is used in the New Testament to speak of Christ’s return.
So:
this season may serve us as a reminder both of the original waiting that was
done for the birth of the Messiah as well as our waiting for Christ's return.
No, we don’t know the date on which Jesus of
Nazareth was born, but what we do know is that the Gospel story for three of
the writers begins with the story of that birth and (most importantly) God’s
involvement in that birth. In other words, we are invited into the story of
Jesus the Messiah at precisely that point of vulnerable humanity. Certainly,
then, it is right that we think about and that we thank God for Christ’s first
coming to Earth as a baby, his taking on flesh. Surely we thank God for his
ongoing presence among us today through the Holy Spirit. If we allow it, this
season can sharpen our focus on such things. And, this season can remind us to
be in a constant state of preparation and anticipation of Christ’s ultimate
arrival at the consummation of all things.
You
see, just as Israel waited for Christ to come the first time, so we are waiting
for him to come again.
How do you talk about “incarnation”? The
“enfleshment” of the creator of the universe is not something we are equipped
to explain, is it? In the incarnation, God is taking us beyond what we think we
can know, let alone what we do know.
The One who had spoken this world into existence lowered himself to live on
this world. Jesus was a human being just
like us — God in human form. That’s a
rather jarring thought. (As a matter of fact, it always has been. Here’s an
interesting irony: the first major heresies in the church were not denials of
Jesus’ divinity, but denials of his humanity.)
John
1.1-4, 14: In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without
him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people... And the Word became flesh and lived among
us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full
of grace and truth.
Hebrews
4.15-16: …we
do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but
we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is approachable precisely because he’s been
where we are. Ever feel rejected? Jesus understands. Your family not treat you
as you’d like? Jesus understands. People think you’re crazy? Jesus has been
there. Feel lonely, like nobody gets it? Jesus has been there. Ever been
overcome with grief? Jesus has been there. On and on we could go. It’s the
human experience, and Jesus has been
there.
But here’s something important for us to think
about this season: Incarnation does not end with Jesus. Athanasius of Alexandria
put it this way: “He became human that we might become divine” (On the Incarnation, 54). I think that’s
a great, straightforward, succinct way to summarize why Jesus became flesh. Not
so that we’d become “gods” in a “rule-your-own-universe” sense, but so that we
would become godly.
2
Peter 1.3-4: His divine
power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given
us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through
them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust,
and may become participants in the divine nature.
2
Corinthians 3.18:
…all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though
reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one
degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
The incarnation of the divine did not end with
Jesus. Instead, there is a sense in which it began with his life, and continues
as our lives are lived in alignment with his.
May God grant that this season of recalling the
anticipation before Jesus’ birth long ago will remind us to live in
anticipation of his return and also remind us that in this waiting time we are
to be an ongoing incarnation of God’s presence in this world. Until his return,
may the Lord born so humbly continue to be present, “incarnated” in and through
us.
Let the same mind be in you that
was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not
regard equality with God
as
something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the
form of a slave,
being born
in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became
obedient to the point of death—
even death
on a cross.
…for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you
both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
—Philippians
2.5-8, 13
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