The incarnation is good news—grounded in history—that God became truly human in Christ. Jesus is both fully human and fully God. In the incarnation, we see that God is not distant, but has plunged himself into the world—not merely as a visitor on a day pass—but by becoming one of us. The incarnation of the Son of God, in the words of Graham Cole, “ought to fill us with humble wonder.” Why humble wonder? For God did not merely send a prophet, priest, or king, but the Son who both perfectly embodies and transcends all three! God did not merely ‘dip his toe’ into humanity for a brief moment, but continues to be embodied at the Father’s right-hand today (Jesus didn’t jettison his body at the ascension!). 

As we approach Christmas, we’ll spend four weeks exploring the spectacular beauty, theological richness, and glorious implications of the incarnation. The incarnation is not only how Jesus could become the sacrifice for our sins, but it’s in the incarnation we delight in God’s desire to dwell with his people. As Rebecca McLaughlin says: “[Jesus] did not just come to give his life for us, but share life with us.” 

Because of the incarnation, we can discover not only what it means to be truly human but the one who identifies with us—in our struggles and our frailty—in every way. It’s because of the incarnation that God can affirm and redeem our nature, pointing forward to the future embodied new creation that awaits. 

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Quick Terms

ADVENT is a season of waiting and preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus. As Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth, we also look forward with anticipation to his second coming.

The INCARNATION of Christ is the Christian doctrine (i.e., belief) that God took on flesh and became truly human in Jesus. In becoming human, the Son did not abandon his divine nature, but was fully human and fully God.