Last week we discussed the Second Person of the Trinity before He was Jesus.  That sounds odd because we usually do not think about Him before He came into the world.  We looked at verses that describe Him as being with God and being God before the world began. (John 1)   He referred to Himself as the I AM, just as God had done to Moses. (John 8) He referenced His presence with God before creation. (John 17)

We examined His role in creation—He was responsible for bringing all things into being (John 1: 3).  Finally, we reviewed the fall of man – how sin entered the world and destroyed perfection. We read the promise of God as part of the curse of Satan—a Savior would come to conquer sin and destroy him.

Today we look at the period in His-story from the Advent to the Crucifixion.  We know there were hundreds of prophecies about His incarnation in the Old Testament.  Today we begin with the angel of the Lord’s appearance to Joseph.  (He had already appeared to Mary.)

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””  Matthew 1: 18-21

Last week we read the verse that is a great segue to this week’s message on the incarnation of Jesus—from the Second Person of the Godhead to flesh and blood baby boy – the human Son of God.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1: 14

In a recent series I taught on the motives of God, we learned why Jesus came.  His was a simple mission—call sinners to repentance.  (Mark 2: 17)  He came as a Savior Redeemer.  Let’s take one step back and ask why God the Father sent the Son in the first place.

(1) Love – Jesus was the Complete Expression of the Love of God toward Mankind

The Love of God was the reason behind the Incarnation

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3: 16

“By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him.” 1 John 4: 9

His motive was love—He sent the Second Person of the Trinity to demonstrate and prove His unconditional love for the race of man He created.  The promise of God is eternal life to those who believe and receive Him. We will again become eternal beings living forever, this time in the presence of God.

(2) Light – Jesus was revelation that God exists and showed the Way to Him.

• Light calls attention to itself – it is revelation that it exists.

“And He (Jesus) is the radiance of His (God’s) glory and the exact representation of (God’s) His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…”  Hebrews 1: 3a

We would not know that the Sun exists without its light.  Jesus came to show us that God exists and He is the incarnation of God to the world.

• Light dispels darkness when we follow and stay in it.  Darkness is always a symbol of evil or sin or the absence of God. 

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.””  John 8: 12

“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”  John 12: 46

Light reveals the way to the source—in this case Jesus Christ.

 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”  John 1: 4-5 (Some translations use overcome instead of comprehend.)

• The Light brings about Judgement

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”  John 3: 19

(3)  Life – Jesus” life was the revelation of the character and nature of Holy perfect God.

• Why did Jesus perform miracles?
  • To show the love and compassion of God – that He cares about suffering.
  • To demonstrate He had all authority and power of disease and nature.
  • That He was God incarnate.

“…so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to…” Matthew 9: 6a

Next week we conclude the series on Resurrection Sunday!  Please join us live on www.facebook.com/onlyjesus.life  at 9:30 AM CDT