This Strange, Refreshing Gust of Heavenly Wind

“…[the] Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17.24-25)

“If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?” (Job 35.7)

The incarnation is so counter intuitive because of who Jesus is. You can’t give him anything. You can’t take anything from him. He is altogether lovely, perfect, sufficient, full of glory, and eternally happy.

Friends, these are words and concepts that we cannot know by personal experience. We know nothing of the glorious happiness that is bound up in the Trinity. By virtue of our sin we are hungry, jealous, feigns pursuing one insufficient buzz after another. In our falleness we know nothing of this beautiful sufficiency.

We must then take the words and concepts of Scripture as transcendent gusts of wind from another world. This other world, this other reality, this transcendent, different Jesus has come down. And this is why the gospel remains so gloriously befuddling to us. (if it is not then we don’t get it!) The transcendent, self-sufficient, gloriously happy one became man for us and our salvation! Therein is this gust of heavenly wind both strange and refreshing to our senses.

Possibly Related posts:

1. The Refreshing Tonic of Music and Preaching
2. Rejoice! reminders are good
3. Should the Gospel Make You Happy?
4. Who Talks Like This?
5. Why Jesus is to be valued above all else, part iv :: because he pursued the highest end

2 Responses to “This Strange, Refreshing Gust of Heavenly Wind”

1. Tweets that mention This Strange, Refreshing Gust of Heavenly Wind- Irish Calvinist -- Topsy.com says:

   December 14, 2009 at 3:04 am

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erik Raymond, The Reformed Hub. The Reformed Hub said: IRISH CALVINIST: This Strange, Refreshing Gust of Heavenly Wind http://bit.ly/5UqVnZ [...]
2. doug says:

   December 14, 2009 at 9:44 pm

   Erik (or others),
   I have sort of related question to the Incarnation that I’m hoping you can help with. I’ve done some research, but not enough to satisfy myself. So any pointers (scripture clues, theology textbooks, or puritan (or other dead guy books) would be appreciated.

   Does the hypo-static union mean that Jesus didn’t have the power in His humanity to do miracles? Or put another way who is doing the miracles when they happen is it Jesus or God? Does Jesus doing miracles as a man mess up His humanity? Did Jesus pray so much because He didn’t know what was going to happen day to day and He had to tap into God to get daily guidance so that He, Jesus, could be at the right place at the right time to catch up to God’s planned miracles? How much power did Jesus have while on earth?

   So that’s a lot of questions rolled together. I’m basically struggling with the hypo-static union and would be open to any resources to help me understand it better.

   Thanks and Merry Christmas.
   –doug