DON’T LET THE WRAPPING FOOL YOU!

 

Sunday, December 17, 2023

 

DON’T LET THE WRAPPING FOOL YOU!

 

Gal 4:4-5

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

 

1 Cor 2:7-8

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 

          The Incarnation is that truth that God wrapped himself in humanity. It is much more complex than that because Jesus was completely God and completely human at the same time. “We understand that the Word was united to the flesh. Wherefore there is one Christ, both God and man, consubstantial with the Father as touching his Godhead, and consubstantial with us as touching his manhood.” (from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2, Volume 14, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

 

          Perhaps deep theology is a bit much for early morning consideration. Consider this, then, that within the stable in Bethlehem lay the God of creation. He was cleverly disguised as a baby and wrapped with straps of cloth. So complete was His disguise that most failed to recognize Him. John tries to explain it to us in the following verses.

 

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

          The word “comprehended” is the Greek word katalambano which essentially means “failure to catch something that was thrown or tossed your way.” It was, if you will, an incomplete pass! God tossed light to man and man failed to seize upon it because his deeds were evil.

 

Dear Lord, give us eyes to see your true identity. Help us not to relate to you too casually but to understand your majesty wrapped in simplicity. O, come to us, abide with us – Our Lord, Immanuel. AMEN