Incarnation

[14] So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. [15] John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' " [16] We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another. [17] For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.
John 1:14-18

There are a number of ways God’s saving grace through Jesus has been expressed and accepted throughout church history in various faith traditions. Some have said Jesus saves by dying, while others have said was by rising from death, and still others have said it is by the sending of the Spirit that Jesus saves. There are those, though, who celebrate Jesus’ salvation in another way. They say Jesus saves simply by being born, by showing up, by coming among us. It was at the very least this act that made the living, dying, rising, and ascending possible.

Incarnation is the theological term for God’s embodiment in Jesus. The miraculous was the very birth of Jesus. In that birth, God entered into Creation, making a way for the restoration and renewal of all things. A young girl in Nazareth was going to have a son, and he would be called Emmanuel (which means, God with us).

As we celebrate Christmas this year, may you be reminded that God stepped out of heaven and walked on earth, and, in that step, He was making a way for you to step from earth and walk in heaven.

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