Series Summary
The Incarnation – when God became human in the person of Jesus Christ – is the fullest example of God’s profound love and desire to redeem and restore humanity. Jesus is eternal, one with God the Father, and yet when he took on flesh, he became fully human, even while still being fully divine. In doing so, he bridged the gap that separated us from God. In the Incarnation, Jesus became one of us, entered into our suffering, shared in our experiences, and made a way for our salvation, through his life, death, and resurrection.
At Christmas, celebrating the Incarnation carries deep significance. It reminds us of the hope, peace, and joy that come with God’s presence among mankind. This Christmas, we will look at how Jesus is eternal in nature, how he is both fully human and fully God, and what that means for us as Christians. And as we do so, we’ll find more and more reasons to celebrate, not only his birth, but also the transformative power of God’s love shown most clearly in the cry of a baby.
It may be a profound mystery, but in Christ, the mystery has been revealed! In Jesus, we see God’s plan, why it matters, and how we can live in response. So we invite you to join us this Christmas season, and marvel at the Incarnation and its call to respond in faith, worship, and imitation of Christ.
Sermon Summary
In Luke 1 and 2, Luke describes the birth of Christ with an emphasis on the divine orchestration of these events, demonstrating how the Messiah was foretold in the Old Testament, and fulfilled in Jesus. The story begins with the angel Gabriel appearing to Zechariah, announcing that his wife, Elizabeth, will miraculously conceive a son despite her old age. This child, John the Baptist, is the one foretold to prepare the way for the Lord. Next, Gabriel visits Mary, a young virgin in Nazareth, proclaiming that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to Jesus, who is the Son of God. These angelic announcements reveal God’s actions in fulfilling the promises he made in the Old Testament.
In Luke 2, the fulfillment of prophecy culminates with Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, as foretold by Micah. Shepherds, visited by angels, are the first to hear the news of the Savior’s birth, underscoring the theme of God’s promises being fulfilled for all people.
Luke’s narrative reminds us of God’s unwavering faithfulness to his promises and his active involvement in our lives. Just as God fulfilled his promises to send a Savior, we can trust that he continues to work out his purposes in the world and in our personal lives. Through Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan, we are invited into a relationship with him, experiencing his grace and hope in our own lives as we look forward to the promise of his return.
Merry Christmas!