Incarnation, Altogether Unique-Advent 10 (2015)

Aladdin’s Genie: What would you wish of me? The ever impressive… the long-contained… the often imitated, but never… duplicated… (duplicated… duplicated… duplicated…) Genie of the Lamp! Right here, direct from the lamp. Right here for your very much wish-fulfillment. Thank you.

Jesus is not a genie from a lamp or a genie that was put in a lamp of a human body. What happened in the Incarnation is totally unique! Jesus is always impressive, long-contained starting with about 33 years on earth and continuing into eternity.  He’s often-imitated in good ways (at least we’re supposed to be imitators of Christ), but He is lampooned by those who really have no clue what they’re doing.

One thing’s for sure: Jesus’ Incarnation is never ever duplicated and it certainly did not happen so that He could grant wishes. Why is the Incarnation unique? Because He’s God.

Wikipedia uses this definition of Incarnation:

Incarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient being who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial. In its religious context the word is used to mean the descent from Heaven of a god, or divine being in human/animal form on Earth.

Because they define it as being basically a temporary form change, a morphing, avatar, or visitation, they are able to suggest that many world religions have gods who have been incarnated. Some suggest that the Pharaohs were incarnations of gods.  All kinds of beings get all kinds of bodies.

The bad side-flip side is that some believe the flesh is bad and therefore the goal of religion is to be free from a body.

Ugh.  Whatever. People believe all kinds of bunk.

The truth is the biblical idea of the Incarnation is a huge stumbling block to all but those who are willing to see that Jesus is totally unique as The Son of God/Son of Man.

Thought for the day: Jesus didn’t just take on a human form and then go back to being an immaterial entity or change into many different bodies like Aladdin’s Genie.

Questions for reflection:

1. What is the difference between an avatar (a manifestation or visible representation) and the Incarnation?
2. A theophany is a visible manifestation of God to humankind. Read Gen 18:1-3 and 32:24-25, 28-30. How is this different than the Incarnation?
3. This list of verses talks about “the Angel of the Lord” whom many believe are references to the pre-Incarnate Christ. Gen. 16:7-11, Gen 22:11-15, Exo 3:2, Num. 22:22-35, Jdg. 2:1-4, Jdg. 5:23, Jdg. 6:11-22, Jdg. 13:3-21, 1 Ki. 19:7, 2 Ki. 1:3-15, 2 Ki. 19:35, 1 Chr. 21:12-30, Ps. 34:7, Ps. 35:5-6, Isa. 37:36, Zech. 1:11-12, Zech. 3:1-6, Zech. 12:8. If “the Angel  of the Lord” is Jesus before He was fully man (in addition to fully God), how is His Incarnation superior to even this?

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Incarnation (2015 Advent Devotional Series) began November 29th.  By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2015 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><