Marvelling at the Incarnation of Christ

I recently taught on the incarnation of Jesus and have come away increasingly impressed with the infinite depth of the Savior’s condescension for and towards rebels. Consider with me the very night of the birth of Jesus in the manger. We read in The Gospel According to Luke:

Luke 2:6-7 ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Here we have the ultimate care giver and source of all true comfort being comforted and cared for. Jesus, the sovereign king, was cleaned, cared for and swaddled in a blanket. Forbid it that you or I would go to a hospital to visit a newborn or even see the kids in the church nursery without finding ourselves reminded and marveling at the swaddled Savior as detailed by Luke.

Furthermore, this word used by Luke, (sparganoo) is also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The picture here is not of an infant child but of an infant earth. We do however have one commonality, the Lord Jesus, the sovereign creator and savior is in both accounts.

Job 38:8-11 ⁸ “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, ⁹ when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, ¹⁰ and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, ¹¹ and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

Here in the relentless divine rebuke of Job we have this wonderful picture of God using clouds as a garment and darkness as a swaddling band. Amazing.

So how far does Jesus stoop for you believer? How deadly is sin that is caused the holy, omnipotent, infinitely glorious Creator to adorn flesh in order that he might re-create you?! Join me in marveling at the infinite condescension of Jesus through his incarnation. The Sovereign arm of creation and providence is the Sovereign arm of redemption. Let us fix our humbled and watery eyes upon this ever-glorious King who rescued us from sin and has given us joy inexpressible through his life, death, and resurrection.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Marvelling at the Marvelous One
2. A Meditation on Christ’s Incarnation
3. What Christ-Centered Preaching Endeavors to Do
4. Never Forget Who Christ Really Is
5. Esteem the grace of God in Christ

2 Responses to “Marvelling at the Incarnation of Christ”

1. Barry says:

   September 27, 2007 at 8:05 am

   Erik,

   Wow! I honestly had to look up the word condescend to get at the context of what you were describing. I had always seen the word used as a negative, an attitude, like looking down ones nose. But the first definition in Websters is “to descend to a less formal or undignified level; to waive the privileges of rank.” that truly says it and I appreciate your use of the word. King Jesus incarnate stooping to redeem those chosen of the Father does give me an inexpressible joy. Thanks for the post man.
2. erik says:

   September 27, 2007 at 8:32 am

   It is a good Puritan word that paints the picture well for me. I trust you’ll use it now too.