What’s the big deal about the Incarnation?

What’s the big deal about the Incarnation?
Studies on The Incarnation
November 18, 2007
 
The Incarnation is the hub not only of human history, but also of ultimate reality.  It is in the incarnation that we know God…it is how God has chosen to let us know Him.  
 
The World into which Jesus was born
•Strong government
•Abundance of philosophies
•Zealous religious system
•A Defensive World
•A Hungry World
 
 
The World in which We Live
•Strongest nation on earth
•Abundance of philosophies
•Numerous zealous religious systems
•A Defensive World
•A Hungry World
 
The beginning of the story…
•“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.”                                                                         (John 20:30-31)
•John’s use of “the Word”
•Greeks – “the word” (logos) was divine reason, the mind, or even wisdom
•Hebrews – “the word” illustrated God’s creative activity
 
The beginning of the story…
1.      “In the beginning was the Word” – Eternal
2.      “And the Word was with God” – Personal
3.      “And the Word was God” – Deity
4.      “Through him all things were made” – Creative
5.      “In him was life” – Animating
6.      “And that life was the light of men” – Revealing
7.      “The Word became flesh” – Incarnate
8.      “and took up residence among us” - Available
»The above is from J. I. Packer’s Knowing God