The older I get the more I realize how little I really understand. The wisdom of God is much greater and more magnificent than I could ever fathom. I love passages like this because they draw me into awe and worship.
Here’s the passage
Here are three questions.
#1Why did God choose to have Christ enter the world with the appearance of sin? (vv 18-21)
Mary was a betrothed woman. The passage makes clear that she and Joseph have not yet come together in intercourse. Her being found pregnant immediately insinuates adultery and under the Levitical law she is to be put to death (Leviticus 20:10). I think this is why Joseph is visited by an Angel in order to preserve his marriage to Mary. If she were to simply come to him insisting she was still a virgin, he would have no reason to believe her, especially in that culture.
(I do think it is remarkable the love that Joseph has for Mary. The amount of tenderness, grace, and mercy he gives her is a true example of how every husband should treat his wife).
#2- Is Jesus the name that the Son held before His incarnation? (vv 22-23)
In view of eternity, this question is trivial, but I think about it because of the weight the name of Jesus carries in scripture. It is in His name we are saved, It is by His name that all authority is carried in the Church. It is the name by which we pray, and it is at the name of Jesus that every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. It really just makes me think about His majesty, which is a good thing.
#3- Why would God even consider saving us? (vv 21)
This is a question that I think every Christian considers at some point. It is a humbling one, and one I encourage you to dwell on.
We really don’t grasp the magnitude of God coming to Earth. Less so do we understand the magnitude of Him coming to Earth as a Man. We can put all kinds of theories and doctrines into words (I think it’s important that we do), but at the end of the day we must lay our logic and wisdom at the feet of Jesus. and put our faith in Him.
Remember this: Were there no nativity, there would be no cross, no resurrection, and no salvation. It may seem obvious, but I think that Jesus’ birth is something that gets taken for granted sometimes. I encourage you to dwell on the mysteries of the incarnation and the salvation that comes through it. It is not a seasonal story just to be discussed at Christmas time, but is at the very foundation of our faith.
I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my college professors.
“God Chose that Love is best expressed incarnate”. – Jeff Quinn
Next week’s passage: Matthew 2:1-6
Thought provoking questions. Thanks for the reminders.
Love it bro… His incarnation was humble, but his return will be awesome!