2020 Daily Devotion - Day 265
One of the most difficult things for people to understand is the Incarnation of Christ. This is the doctrine which teaches us Jesus is God in human flesh. The Christian Church has always taught Jesus is fully God and fully man – 100% God and 100% man.
Winston Churchill, in his day, described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". This is a good definition of the Incarnation. It is that difficult to understand.
In John 10:30, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” When He said this, He was declaring Himself to be God in human flesh. Some might argue that He and the Father are one in purpose. But the word used for “one” here in the original Koine Greek means one in substance. To truly make the point when you read the rest of the chapter, you learn the religious leaders of the day who were listening, understood what He was saying very well because it says they picked up stones to kill Him. They considered what He had just said to be blasphemy (tremendous disrespect to God), which was punishable by death. And as they picked up the stones, they stated the reason, “Because you being a man make yourself out to be God.” They understood what Jesus was declaring very well.
So at Christmas, this is exactly what we are celebrating. This “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” is a truth that the Almighty God would take on human flesh to come into our broken world to rescue us. At Christmas, we celebrate this incredible teaching and reality of what God has done for us.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, even though we struggle to comprehend this mystery, we nevertheless rejoice in its truth. The more we think about it, the more it takes our breath away. We thank You for this incredible gift. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
In John 10:30, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” When He said this, He was declaring Himself to be God in human flesh. Some might argue that He and the Father are one in purpose. But the word used for “one” here in the original Koine Greek means one in substance. To truly make the point when you read the rest of the chapter, you learn the religious leaders of the day who were listening, understood what He was saying very well because it says they picked up stones to kill Him. They considered what He had just said to be blasphemy (tremendous disrespect to God), which was punishable by death. And as they picked up the stones, they stated the reason, “Because you being a man make yourself out to be God.” They understood what Jesus was declaring very well.
So at Christmas, this is exactly what we are celebrating. This “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” is a truth that the Almighty God would take on human flesh to come into our broken world to rescue us. At Christmas, we celebrate this incredible teaching and reality of what God has done for us.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, even though we struggle to comprehend this mystery, we nevertheless rejoice in its truth. The more we think about it, the more it takes our breath away. We thank You for this incredible gift. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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