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9 months ago
The Wonder of the Incarnation: Reflecting on the Astonishing Story of Jesus
The Wonder of the Incarnation: Reflecting on the Astonishing Story of Jesus
Have you ever stopped to truly ponder the wonder of the incarnation of Jesus Christ? As Christians, we may have grown up hearing about this miraculous event, reciting the Apostles' Creed in church, and studying the doctrines of our faith. But how often do we truly feel the awe, fear, astonishment, and wonder of the Son of God coming into the world?
In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus did many signs in the presence of His disciples that were not written in the book. However, the signs that were written down were meant to serve a specific purpose - to help us believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and to bring us into a life-transforming faith in His name (John 20:30-31).
It is essential for us, especially those of us who have grown up in the church, to be awakened to the astonishing reality of Jesus. We can easily become callous and unfeeling to the glory and story of God. We may find ourselves more moved by fictional stories, fairy tales, and movies than by the true story of the Son of God.
Consider this: The story of the incarnation is more shocking, strange, weird, and spellbinding than any fairy tale or mystery thriller you could ever read or watch. It is the story of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting the glory of God, being the very image of His person, and through whom all things were created and are upheld by the word of His power.
Think about the awe-inspiring truth that Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world for a purpose. He said, "For this purpose I have come into the world" (John 18:37). This statement is as crazy, weird, strange, and eerie as any statement in science fiction. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, stepped into human history to accomplish a divine mission that would forever change the course of humanity.
In our modern world, we may find ourselves captivated by the thrilling narratives of galactic movies. These stories may humble us and bring us to a place of repentance as we realize that we can experience wonder, awe, amazement, and excitement for fictional tales, but often lack the same response when contemplating the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ.
But one day, the full reality of Jesus Christ will be revealed in a way that surpasses anything we have ever experienced. The Bible tells us that one day, lightning will fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and the Son of Man will appear in the clouds with His mighty angels in flaming fire. We will see Him clearly, and whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and wonder how we ever lived with such a domesticated, harmless view of Christ.
The Bible, from beginning to end, is written to help us believe and be stunned by the reality of Jesus Christ. It is not just a collection of stories or moral teachings; it is the written testimony of God's redemptive plan for humanity. The whole Bible points to Jesus as the Son of God who came into the world.
So, how can we awaken ourselves to the wonder of the incarnation and the astonishing story of Jesus? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Engage with the Scriptures: Take time to read and meditate on the Bible, especially the Gospels. Dive deep into the narratives of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection. Allow the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the wonder of who Jesus is and what He has done.
2. Reflect on the attributes of God: Consider the eternal nature of God, His glory, His power, and His love. Reflect on how Jesus, as the Son of God, reflects all of these attributes. Allow the magnitude of God's character to fill you with awe and wonder.
3. Pray for the Holy Spirit's awakening: Ask God to break into your experience in a frightening way, to wake you up to the unimaginable reality of His presence. Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life, that you may be filled with wonder and amazement at the person of Jesus Christ.
4. Share the story of Jesus: Take every opportunity to share the story of Jesus with others. As you speak about His life, death, and resurrection, you will find a renewed sense of wonder and awe. Hearing the story through the ears of others can reignite the passion and amazement within you.
5. Worship with reverence and awe: Approach your times of worship with a sense of reverence and awe. Sing songs that exalt the name of Jesus and reflect on the lyrics that describe His glory and majesty. Allow yourself to be caught up in the wonder of His presence.
As we engage with the wonder of the incarnation, we will find our hearts stirred with a renewed sense of awe, fear, astonishment, and wonder. The story of Jesus is not just a fairy tale or a fictional narrative; it is the true story of God's love and redemption for humanity. May we never grow numb to its power and may we continually seek to be awakened to the astonishing reality of Jesus Christ.
Have you ever stopped to truly ponder the wonder of the incarnation of Jesus Christ? As Christians, we may have grown up hearing about this miraculous event, reciting the Apostles' Creed in church, and studying the doctrines of our faith. But how often do we truly feel the awe, fear, astonishment, and wonder of the Son of God coming into the world?
In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus did many signs in the presence of His disciples that were not written in the book. However, the signs that were written down were meant to serve a specific purpose - to help us believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and to bring us into a life-transforming faith in His name (John 20:30-31).
It is essential for us, especially those of us who have grown up in the church, to be awakened to the astonishing reality of Jesus. We can easily become callous and unfeeling to the glory and story of God. We may find ourselves more moved by fictional stories, fairy tales, and movies than by the true story of the Son of God.
Consider this: The story of the incarnation is more shocking, strange, weird, and spellbinding than any fairy tale or mystery thriller you could ever read or watch. It is the story of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting the glory of God, being the very image of His person, and through whom all things were created and are upheld by the word of His power.
Think about the awe-inspiring truth that Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world for a purpose. He said, "For this purpose I have come into the world" (John 18:37). This statement is as crazy, weird, strange, and eerie as any statement in science fiction. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, stepped into human history to accomplish a divine mission that would forever change the course of humanity.
In our modern world, we may find ourselves captivated by the thrilling narratives of galactic movies. These stories may humble us and bring us to a place of repentance as we realize that we can experience wonder, awe, amazement, and excitement for fictional tales, but often lack the same response when contemplating the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ.
But one day, the full reality of Jesus Christ will be revealed in a way that surpasses anything we have ever experienced. The Bible tells us that one day, lightning will fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and the Son of Man will appear in the clouds with His mighty angels in flaming fire. We will see Him clearly, and whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and wonder how we ever lived with such a domesticated, harmless view of Christ.
The Bible, from beginning to end, is written to help us believe and be stunned by the reality of Jesus Christ. It is not just a collection of stories or moral teachings; it is the written testimony of God's redemptive plan for humanity. The whole Bible points to Jesus as the Son of God who came into the world.
So, how can we awaken ourselves to the wonder of the incarnation and the astonishing story of Jesus? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Engage with the Scriptures: Take time to read and meditate on the Bible, especially the Gospels. Dive deep into the narratives of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection. Allow the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the wonder of who Jesus is and what He has done.
2. Reflect on the attributes of God: Consider the eternal nature of God, His glory, His power, and His love. Reflect on how Jesus, as the Son of God, reflects all of these attributes. Allow the magnitude of God's character to fill you with awe and wonder.
3. Pray for the Holy Spirit's awakening: Ask God to break into your experience in a frightening way, to wake you up to the unimaginable reality of His presence. Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life, that you may be filled with wonder and amazement at the person of Jesus Christ.
4. Share the story of Jesus: Take every opportunity to share the story of Jesus with others. As you speak about His life, death, and resurrection, you will find a renewed sense of wonder and awe. Hearing the story through the ears of others can reignite the passion and amazement within you.
5. Worship with reverence and awe: Approach your times of worship with a sense of reverence and awe. Sing songs that exalt the name of Jesus and reflect on the lyrics that describe His glory and majesty. Allow yourself to be caught up in the wonder of His presence.
As we engage with the wonder of the incarnation, we will find our hearts stirred with a renewed sense of awe, fear, astonishment, and wonder. The story of Jesus is not just a fairy tale or a fictional narrative; it is the true story of God's love and redemption for humanity. May we never grow numb to its power and may we continually seek to be awakened to the astonishing reality of Jesus Christ.
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