The Mystery of the Incarnation

The other day, a child showed me the word CHRISTMAS and then covered over the MAS with a finger. Pointing to the word CHRIST, the child said, “Whoever came up with the word ‘Christmas’ must have been a religious person.”

I’d say so!

Christmas is about Christ!

For the next four weeks, I’m going to share some quotes from a new book titled Come, Follow Me. I’m privileged to be one of 11 co-authors of the book. It’s 52 weeks of devotions. Each week focuses on a specific Scripture text. The first four weeks relate to Christmas.

Week one is John 1:1-18, the majestic reading about the eternal existence of the Word who became flesh. Here are some quotes from week one of Come, Follow Me:

“God created the world, but He does not need the world. God loves the world, but God does not need the world to love Him back. God needs nothing – neither creation, nor a relationship with creation – to be God. God is complete and whole and holy within Himself. And God decided to create, out of His divine love and wisdom.” (Page 6)

This quote stands out to me because it directs us to the love of God. He didn’t create us out of His own need, nor did He save us out of His own need. He needs nothing from anyone. God is perfectly self-sufficient. Yet in His great love, He sent us a Savior, Jesus.

“The clay has been given the ability to know and love the Potter who formed it (see Isaiah 64:8).” (Page 6)

“Imagine learning how to speak like an ant. Getting down on your hands and knees, talking to them. It would be humiliating.” (Page 8)

These two quotes remind us that God chose to humble Himself. He graciously allows us to have a relationship with Him. He communicates with us in a way that we can understand.

“Jesus came in the flesh so that we could ‘taste and see that the LORD is good’ (Psalm 34:8), so that we could see with our eyes and touch with our hands that we have fellowship with the Father and life in Christ (see 1 John 1:1-3).” (Page 8)

Because of Jesus, humanity gets to experience God, not as a distant deity but as a compassionate Savior who draws near to His creation.

As Scripture declares, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh …” (1 Timothy 3:16)

If you’re in the San Antonio area, you can purchase your copy of Come, Follow Me in the church office at Shepherd of the Hills. Otherwise, it’s available online at cph.org or amazon.com.