Incarnation

 

A reflection based on one of the beautiful devotional sharings that Dr. Arul Anketell led at the EMFI National Conference 2012 

The mystery of mysteries! The eternal God - creator of all that is - seen and unseen - becomes flesh, becomes one of us, takes on the form of a created being... forever forth!

The amazing and heart-wrenching enfleshment of our Lord Jesus is described in a 7 fold way by Paul in his letter to the Philippians (Phil 2.5 ff):

1.      He emptied himself Jesus did not hold on to the glory and honour that was rightfully due to Him. He refused to grasp that which was His - but let go of that out of love. Self 'dis-glorification'!

2.      Taking the form of a slave Man was meant to be free - but all around are people in chains. Jesus became a doulos - a bond-slave to set us free by his chains.

3.      Coming in the likeness of man This was no avatar - a form that can be cast off later for another form - our Lord Jesus has become permanently human! Jesus - God eternal becomes a flesh and blood man - and continues to be one while keeping His eternal divine nature as well! Oh glory!

4.      Found in appearance as a man People did not see anything special about Jesus. He had no special outward sign to him. Isaiah said he had no beauty to attract us to him. His enemies in the garden needed to sign of a kiss to figure out which of the men was Jesus!

5.      He humbled Himself True humility must lead to death. Jesus constantly lowered Himself out of love.

 

6.      He became obedient to death Jesus gave up all His self-rights and submitted Himself to His Father. Not my will but yours. This was costly obedience. Jesus became the first sacrifice who was both worthy and consenting in all ways.

7.      Even death on a cross The death Jesus suffered was the worst possible, the most shameful and painful way of dying. Only the wounds of God can speak to our wounds - and overcome the wicked mess we have made of things.

Our attitude, our actions, our lives should be the same as our wonderful Lord Jesus. As we serve among people broken by a host of issues - of which HIV is often a late symptom - our only real hope is in this Living Lord Jesus - who loved us enough that He came into this world to save sinners - of which I am the worst!

May our lives live out the incarnation! May people who are 'sin-positive' (100% of this planet - Rom 3.23) awake to the glorious hope of King Jesus! May we, our brothers and sisters and all those around us rejoice in this great hope and love!

p.s. a version of this appeared in the Jeevan Sahara Kendra prayer bulletin – please write to andisheba@yahoo.co.in if you would like to be added to the monthly JSK mailing list.