The Incarnation is an amazing truth of the Christian faith. God came down and lived among us! Listen to Susie’s discussion with author and speaker Elyse Fitzpatrick. Elyse traces the wonder of ‘God with us’ starting at the manger in Bethlehem. Jesus was born as a baby boy, “weak for us, just like us,” and needed to learn the language. He nursed at Mary’s breast. He slept and cried and learned to walk – why? Elyse says, He did it for us. He needed to live a perfect life in our place so He could die a sinner’s death in our place. We can’t fully understand this truth, but we can celebrate it!
Jesus was fully man, but He still showed His glory at specific points in His ministry. Elyse points to the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus takes His three closest disciples up on a mountain and He is transformed before their eyes. They beheld His glory, and, in Elyse’s words, “they fainted.” He carried the glory of heaven in His body but chose to conceal it so we would come near to Him. If we saw Jesus in full glory, we would faint right alongside Peter, James, and John. Yet He invited us to come near and walk with Him, unafraid to be in His presence. We serve an accessible God, and He invites us to humble ourselves and come.
Elyse points out that this is a challenge for those of us who struggle with pride or fear. “The bent of all of our hearts is the idea that we can work hard enough and be good enough to somehow merit the favor of God. But the reality is that God’s perfect. And in His perfection what He requires in order to be in fellowship with people is sinlessness.” We can only attain that status through Jesus. We can be Found in Him.
Key Scriptures: Romans 4:24-25; Hebrews 4:15; Mark 9:2-9
Theme Song: No One Higher by Aaron Shust
Highlight : The mount of transfiguration
Image: Flickr
