The Eternal Incarnation of Immanuel

Conceived in the womb of a young Jewish girl, the Word becomes flesh. As the cells of our Creator divide and multiply, the very Author of life empties Himself, taking on human form, soon to be born in the likeness of men.

Not considering equality with God something to be grasped, the Word of God is pushed forth from the womb, assuming forever the role of God-Man. This Image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) has forever left His pre-incarnate state, eternally to exist as the man, Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

For several months, the wonder of the incarnation has baffled me. I have been a Christian for more than two decades now, and yet I somehow never grasped until recently the sacrifice of Christ in His eternal incarnation. The Son of God did not exist in eternity past as a man. Rather, he took on flesh when the Holy Spirit gave conception within the womb of a poor Jewish virgin, and His incarnation and its permanence have everything to do with our eternal salvation and security in Him.

“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 apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3,14)

This mark in time when the Second Person of the Godhead takes on flesh and bones is a dividing line of sorts that ushers in the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption. As I’ve pondered the Son of God’s incarnation during this Christmas season, I have been struck by four aspects of the incarnation that I’d like to share with you here. What peace and encouragement come during this stressful and hectic season through KNOWing our Savior-God and His sacrifice on our behalf.

1. Jesus Christ humbled himself to become a baby.

The aspect of the incarnation that we most frequently celebrate is the Advent.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Jesus Christ took on a human body, allowed Himself to become dependent on the milk of a woman’s breast, and subjected Himself to the limitations and dependencies of humanity. He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He subjected Himself to the authority of earthly, sinful parents (Luke 2:51). He learned obedience (Hebrews 5:8). Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus “did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” He was found in appearance as a man, humbling Himself by becoming obedient to the Father, even to the point of death on a cross.

2. His human body was crucified on our behalf.

“…We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,” Hebrews 10:10. Through the incarnation of Christ, He assumed a human body that could be punished on behalf of my own sinfulness. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

The Word Incarnate was despised. Forsaken. A man of sorrows. Acquainted with grief. Smitten of God. Afflicted. Pierced. Crushed. Chastened. Scourged. (Isaiah 53)

All of our iniquity was laid upon the Word-Made-Flesh, the One who is the fulfillment of all the Law and all the Prophets. “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

3. The Son of God remains “the Man, Christ Jesus.”

Jesus did not simply hold His nose to the stench of mankind to lower Himself for a mere 33 years before returning to the pre-incarnate Savior. Although this “Firstborn from the Dead” now has a glorified body, He continues forever as the visible “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15, 18). Because He remains the eternal God-Man, Jesus continues forever as the Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). He remains the High Priest who makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

And He remains our Savior. He is both our Savior from sin and its terrible consequences (Matthew 1:21) as well as our Savior “who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Philippians 3:20-21). Because the incarnate God assumed human nature for eternity, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

4. Because of Christ’s permanent incarnate state, He stands as our Kinsman Redeemer and our Blood Avenger — the story is not over yet.

The beauty and glory that await the Christian are wrapped up completely in Christ’s remaining our brother. As our brother, the God who has become “one of us,” Jesus Christ is our only hope as Kinsman Redeemer (see Leviticus 25). The Kinsman Redeemer must be a blood relative with the means and desire to free His brother. And Word-Made-Flesh, Jesus Christ, did it. He has redeemed us, having made the purchase of our souls, not “with perishable things like silver or gold, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

And so, as we see that He will do in the book of Revelation, Jesus steps forward as our Kinsman Redeemer as well as our Blood Avenger (see Numbers 35 and Deuteronomy 19). He will avenge the blood of His bondservants (Revelation 19:2). As the sinless God-Man, He has all right to tread the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty (Revelation 19:15). And He has the right to rescue and redeem His people, for “He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God“ (Revelation 19:13).

As I continue in the celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, I’m remembering that He is still the Incarnate-Word. Because He remains eternally the God-Man, we can walk in glorious boldness and faith, for the Incarnate God is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23).

Christ by highest heav’n adored Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the Herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”