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Why Jesus Came in the Flesh.
At Christmas we rejoice in the Incarnation of God; that the eternal Son put on flesh and blood. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. [St John 1:14] But why? Why did Jesus take upon Himself flesh and blood? Why did God take humanity upon Himself?
The book of Hebrews answers this question for us, especially chapter 2, verses 14 and 15. First we are told that the Lord Jesus took on Himself the same flesh and blood that we have. He became a man like us, sharing in our flesh. Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same. [Hebrews 2:14a] Jesus is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.
The text then goes on to discuss why He took up flesh and blood, that through death. [Hebrews 2:14b] Jesus takes on a body so that He might die... flesh to be beaten, blood to be spilt. The shadow of the cross stretches to Bethlehem. As theologian Helmut Thielicke puts it, the crib and the cross are hewn out of the same wood. The body that the Father prepared for the Son was a body to be sacrificed [see Hebrews 10:5,10].
What is the result of His sacrificial death? The text continues, ... that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. [Hebrews 2:14c] Jesus' death is the destruction of death and the devil. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. [1 John 3:8b]
And what is the benefit for us? Since the fall into sin all mankind has been in bondage to death. But Jesus is the Savior who takes up a body to die, that through His death-destroying death He might release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. [Hebrews 2:15] By Jesus' death we are set free from death, from the condemnation of death, from the fear of death, and we are given life and salvation.
As we remember the Savior's birth this Christmastide rejoice that Jesus came in the flesh in order to die and be the sacrifice for our sins.
Merry Christmas, and The Lord's Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Wolfmueller
For Further Study of the Victory of Lord's Incarnation...
St Mark 10:45; Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Timothy 1:10
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