The Beauty of the Incarnation: A Meditation

Oftentimes when Christians tell the story of Jesus they begin with the Incarnation. But neither the story of Christianity nor the story of the Incarnation begins in the Gospels. Instead, it begins in Genesis. And when we read it as such, the real beauty of the Incarnation reveals itself.

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In the beginning, humankind was whole – existing in perfect harmony with self and other. They were ruled by a kind and generous Creator who lavished His kingdom with the essentials for all that was beautiful and desirable.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

But humankind was not satisfied with what their Lord and King provided them. They had long desired to acquire knowledge and wisdom; for how could they know that what He had provided was best for them? So, they “ate from the Tree of Knowledge” – the very tree they were commanded to stay away from. Having relied on their own knowledge and wisdom they became wanderers, lost in a foreign land, and unable to return to the bliss they once had. Humankind cried out to God for help.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He established a covenant people – a light to illuminate the path home for humanity. But this covenant people continually rebelled, unable to relinquish control over to God. They were powerless to see God through the filth of their own depravity and disobedience. They became lost – wanderers in a foreign land. Out of their slavery, they cried out to God for help.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He established a nation. He established a kingdom that would allow his people to flourish in a land that was flowing with milk and honey – a beauty reminiscent of how humankind existed before. God provided land that would be sufficient for their needs and He would be their Lord and King.

But they saw how the nations around them lived and desired to have more. They desired to demonstrate their wealth and influence; to have a political power that could represent them before the world. They were not content with what God had provided. They were not content with God as their King. So, God gave them over to their desires and they became lost – wanderers in a foreign land. Out of their bondage, they cried out to God for help.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He sent messengers to His people – the prophets. They would help re-establish the relationship between God and his people. Now God’s people were able to directly communicate with Him. But they were not happy with what God had provided and desired more. So, they enslaved their own people and discarded the poor. They turned the house of the Lord into a den of thieves and robbers where they prostituted their own women. So, God gave them over to their desires and they became lost – wanderers in a foreign land.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He became silent for 400 years.

Then God spoke! He spoke in a way that his people had not heard before. Surely now His words would not fall hollow across the hearts of His people. His words were like cries that could be heard from a tiny stable. Cries and gasps for air, like those of a newborn, which rang out as lonely echoes upon the quiet night’s ether.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He sent the people His Word. But these were not entrusted to mere mortals. This time He would speak directly to His people. He would restore His people and give them hope for the future. And, in doing so, He would open the eyes of His people, letting them see who they are in light of who God is. Now God would establish His kingdom; for on this day, in the city of David, a child was born who is Christ the Lord.
It was indeed a very holy night, the night He became one of us.

Immanuel – God. With. Us.

Amen!