Not the second hand automobile users magazine but the theological doctrine that binds the Christian faith together.
This facet of Jesus has been fascinating me recently � I been grasping the truth that the incarnation is and trying to get a song out of it.
Jesus is God � Man. What does this mean for Christians? What is the significance to us that Jesus, the Messiah was God and Man, equally and complementarily? What does this teach us about God that we should be expressing in worship? Two thoughts have really taken root in my head
1. Jesus being a man dignifies the human race. Being born of a woman gives a dignity to the species � Jesus was like us, as were and are. Its as if Jesus being incarnated was a sign that the human body isn�t evil and something to be escaped, but that it works with the spirit to give us wholeness as beings. As Dave M often says, we are creatures as well as Spirit. The human body is some thing Jesus took � and whatever else we think about Jesus, he was sinless. So we see a model of humanity that is bodily - not other earthly or nebulous. If he wasn�t fully human, the power of the cross is hugely reduced. I think of Hebrews, a high priest who was tempted as were, and able to sympathise with our weaknesses. If Jesus hadn�t struggled with His vocation as Messiah (see Gethsemane � asking if there was anyway the cup could have been taken form Him) then he couldn�t sympathise with human struggles.
2. That Jesus was a baby (helpless) and a human (limited and, as a race, with fundamental problems) demonstrates to us something of God�s greatness and humility. That God could stoop down to our level shows us that he could not be reduced, weakened or affected by the stooping. His descent proves his everlasting greatness. He is secure in his reign and glory � not needing to trumpet the descent from the rooftops, but coming in humility to poverty. God is not insecure. God�s doing fine today. He�s doing great today.
The working title for the song is "We worship at the manger: / where God displayed his greatness". I think what�s important with this piece is to not reduce the mystery down to manageable terms, but to present some ideas and give space to wonder at God.
Peace y�all
Matt
