When we pause to consider the Incarnation—the eternal Word becoming flesh—it is no wonder that theologians like J.I. Packer and R.C. Sproul marveled at its profound mystery.

The songwriter captured the splendor of the Incarnation by writing:

Christ, by highest heaven adored;

Christ, the everlasting Lord;

late in time behold him come,

offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

hail th’ incarnate Deity,

pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King!”

(Charles Wesley)

Glorious truth in Incarnation; not mere fantasy…..Amen….

Augustine’s poetic reflection captures the unfathomable beauty: the Creator cradled in the arms of His creation, the Sustainer of the universe dependent on a mother’s milk. The staggering truth of “God with us” is not a fable, but the cornerstone of the Christian faith.

Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call Him Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, BSB). Centuries later, John affirmed the fulfillment: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, BSB). These verses take us to the heart of Christmas—not a sentimental story, but a divine invasion of human history.

God in the Manger

The Incarnation defies human comprehension because it brings together two realities that seem irreconcilable: God’s infinite majesty and humanity’s finite frailty. As Pastor Alistair Begg aptly stated, “The God of eternity appeared in the person of the Son to live in His own creation without ceasing to be God.” Imagine the One who spoke galaxies into existence confining Himself to a womb, entering the world not as a triumphant king but as a helpless infant. He who upholds the universe by His word (Hebrews 1:3) chose to walk in the dust of His creation, even knowing the cross awaited Him.

The Purpose of the Incarnation

Why would the eternal God take on flesh? Scripture answers this question with clarity: He came to rescue sinners. Paul wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15, BSB). The Incarnation was necessary for redemption because only a human could bear the penalty of sin, and only God could pay an infinite debt. In Christ, the two natures—fully God and fully man—united in one person, making Him the perfect Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).

This profound act of love demonstrates that the God of the universe is not distant or detached but intimately involved in the plight of His people. Jesus’ title, “Emmanuel,” meaning “God with us,” is not a poetic flourish but a declaration of reality. He entered our brokenness to bring us healing, our darkness to bring us light, and our death to bring us life.

Glory Revealed

The glory of the Incarnation is far beyond what human imagination could conceive. As Augustine wrote, “He, through whom time was made, was made in time.” This mystery is not meant to be fully understood but worshiped. At Christmas, we do not merely celebrate the birth of a baby; we rejoice in the revelation of God’s glory and grace.

Paul captured this wonder when he wrote, “Though He was in the form of God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6–7, BSB). The humility of Christ magnifies the glory of God. Through His Incarnation, death, and resurrection, He made a way for sinners to be reconciled to God.

A Call to Worship

As we celebrate Advent, let us resist reducing the Incarnation to a quaint story or sentimental tradition. It is the awe-inspiring truth that the eternal Word stepped into time, not as a distant observer but as a Savior. The only proper response is worship.

Let the words of Charles Wesley’s hymn guide our hearts:

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.”

This is not fantasy; it is truth. Not fiction, but reality. And it changes everything.