A New (to me) Insight on Jesus’ Incarnation

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son^[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14

Thanks to Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope, I have a new insight into the incarnation. I’ve always thought of it personally as God becoming real to me, or better yet,  perceptible to me. But I’ve been thinking more today about this implication of Jesus’ incarnation:

Jesus knows the hearts and minds of men. John tells us so: Jesus…understood people and didn’t need anyone to tell him about human nature. He knew what people were really like (John 2:24-25). That was in reference to entrusting himself to people’s whims and fickle praise. But if he knows that, then he also knows our hurts, dreams, yearnings, and desires. He was tempted in every way we are, but without sin. Jesus took on flesh to rescue and redeem us. And in the process gained a deeper insight into the human condition – humanly-speaking. 

I tread on dangerous theological turf in that last assertion. Jesus is fully God. And as such is not subject to human limits of knowledge. But we believe, also, that Jesus emptied himself, and laying aside the prerogatives of his divine nature (cf. Philippians 2:6-8). He knows our frame (Psalm 103:14). We’ll never surprise him by our outlandish imaginations, hubris, deceit, or doubt. We may sadden him. We may disappoint him. We may even weary him. But we’ll never surprise him. Nor will he turn away from us if we are coming to him for help. 

One other facet of Jesus’ knowledge of our hearts. We’ll never pull the wool over Jesus’ eyes. He knows if we’re up to something. He sees right through posturing and pretense. Better we go to him in sincerity and truth. Better we admit our struggles. Better we ask for his healing touch and never relent from seeking his blessing. It’s his to give. And we honor him by seeking it. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people^[c] did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son^[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side,^[g] he has made him known. – John 1:1-18