Happy Incarnation | James Henley

Dec200824

Reflection & Contemplation

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Happy Incarnation

Thought I’d take a moment out on Christmas Eve for a few reflections. Happy Christmas – hope you have a good one!

There’s that classic verse from John 1 in the message version of the bible that a lot of people in the missional/emerging movements use. “The word became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood.”

It’s a fantastic way of declaring Jesus’ presence amongst us – the God who lives (or dwells) amongst us. The God who incarnates.

This God breathes his own live-giving breath into man. And walks with him in the garden.

This God knows – maybe even feels - the sufferings of his people in Egypt. And sends a man amongst them to be like him to Pharoah.

This God dwells in the midst of his people in the wilderness – limiting himself, his awe-inspiring presence to allow himself to be held in by the walls of a tent.

A God whose incarnation comes to its completion in the incarnation – the limiting of Godself to a human body. God comes into humanity, and completes us.

And it is this incarnation which is our hope. It is through this perfect incarnation – this Godman - that we ourselves can find God dwelling amongst us, and within us.

That’s pretty joyful news.

Lord Jesus, how are you incarnating yourself within our own pockets of humanity?

And how can we allow you to incarnate yourself within us?

Happy Christmas.

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