The Nature of the Incarnation

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage
Matthew 2:13-3:6

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
       ¹⁸ “ A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”  Matthew 2:16-18 (NKJV)

The story of the birth of Jesus is an amazing sequence of difficulty after difficulty.  It is actually hard to read if you put yourself into the bare facts.  It is a story of fear, anger, jealousy, the assumption of guilt -- and now even murder.

I in no way want to pollute or defame the wondrous and beautiful story of the coming of the hope of the world!  Jesus truly is our Savior.  The question is, however, what does He come TO and what does He save us FROM?  What does He come to save us out of?

The INCARNATION is a mind-boggling and dramatic event.  Jesus came down to where we are.  If I may take liberties here, I will carry our thoughts further. 

Jesus came down to a place of pain.  He came down to a place of fear and misunderstanding.  The circumstances surrounding this great event are indicative of a world gone crazy with sin, pain, bloodshed, and treachery.  JESUS COMES TO WHERE WE ARE.  He got down and He got dirty -- amidst the "mud, the blood, and the beer" (to quote Johnny Cash).  He did not come to a genteel, orderly, nice world.  He came to a life and death battle.

He comes to our difficult places.  He gets down into the muck and the mire.  His first experiences on this planet involve fleeing from a murderer.  Hebrews says the Jesus came down to "lay hold of the sons of men" (Heb. 2:16). 

I love knowing that my Savior comes to where I am.  He does not demand that I measure up in order for Him to love me.  That is the good news of the incarnation.