The Grand Miracle — Donna Evans

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." John 1:14 (NIV)

Of all the verses that we recently read during the Christmas season, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14) is the verse that most impacted me. Author C. S. Lewis once wrote, "The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation, God becoming flesh and dwelling among humanity. In the Christian story God descends and re-ascends. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity...down to the very roots and seabed of Nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him...It is the Grand Miracle." (Miracles, chapter 14)

Pastor Kevin DeYoung says that the Incarnation addresses the central question of the Bible; "How can a holy God dwell among or live in the midst of an unholy people?"

The Bible's storyline involves four parts:

Creation (Genesis 1-2);
Fall (Genesis 3);
Redemption (Genesis 3:15-Jude),
Restoration (Revelation).

In the Garden of Eden before sin entered the world, man and God enjoyed unbroken fellowship and communion. That fellowship was broken when Adam and Eve rebelled against God and disobeyed His commands. But God made a way for a fresh start by killing an animal and covering Adam and Eve. Still as a consequence for their sin, Adam and Eve were sent away from God's presence. The rest of the Old Testament records man's sin, being sent away from God's presence, and fresh starts.

Garden of Eden - man was kicked out
Noah & the flood - man was wiped out
Tower of Babel - man was spread out
Israel's 10 Northern tribes - blotted out in 722 BC by Assyrians
Israel's 2 Southern tribes - shipped out in exile to Babylon (586BC)

Finally God made a way for us to be brought near: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) Jesus declared himself to be The Way when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) We who once were far away from God's presence have been brought to Him through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13) .

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" - the Incarnation, a mystery and the Grand miracle, for us!