Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
The Beauty of the Incarnation: A Meditation

The Beauty of the Incarnation: A Meditation

Last updated on: December 14, 2020 at 12:33 pm by Eric Scot English

The Beauty of the Incarnation: A Meditation 2020-12-14T12:33:07-05:00 Eric Scot English

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Incarnation A Meditation main image

Image courtesy of Jeswin Thomas

Oftentimes when Christians tell the story of Jesus they begin with the Incarnation. But neither the story of Christianity nor the story of the Incarnation begins in the Gospels. Instead, it begins in Genesis. And when we read it as such, the real beauty of the Incarnation reveals itself.

***

In the beginning, humankind was whole – existing in perfect harmony with self and other. They were ruled by a kind and generous Creator who lavished His kingdom with the essentials for all that was beautiful and desirable.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

But humankind was not satisfied with what their Lord and King provided them. They had long desired to acquire knowledge and wisdom; for how could they know that what He had provided was best for them? So, they “ate from the Tree of Knowledge” – the very tree they were commanded to stay away from. Having relied on their own knowledge and wisdom they became wanderers, lost in a foreign land, and unable to return to the bliss they once had. Humankind cried out to God for help.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He established a covenant people – a light to illuminate the path home for humanity. But this covenant people continually rebelled, unable to relinquish control over to God. They were powerless to see God through the filth of their own depravity and disobedience. They became lost – wanderers in a foreign land. Out of their slavery, they cried out to God for help.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He established a nation. He established a kingdom that would allow his people to flourish in a land that was flowing with milk and honey – a beauty reminiscent of how humankind existed before. God provided land that would be sufficient for their needs and He would be their Lord and King.

But they saw how the nations around them lived and desired to have more. They desired to demonstrate their wealth and influence; to have a political power that could represent them before the world. They were not content with what God had provided. They were not content with God as their King. So, God gave them over to their desires and they became lost – wanderers in a foreign land. Out of their bondage, they cried out to God for help.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He sent messengers to His people – the prophets. They would help re-establish the relationship between God and his people. Now God’s people were able to directly communicate with Him. But they were not happy with what God had provided and desired more. So, they enslaved their own people and discarded the poor. They turned the house of the Lord into a den of thieves and robbers where they prostituted their own women. So, God gave them over to their desires and they became lost – wanderers in a foreign land.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He became silent for 400 years.

Then God spoke! He spoke in a way that his people had not heard before. Surely now His words would not fall hollow across the hearts of His people. His words were like cries that could be heard from a tiny stable. Cries and gasps for air, like those of a newborn, which rang out as lonely echoes upon the quiet night’s ether.

And God loved what He had made because it was good.

So, He sent the people His Word. But these were not entrusted to mere mortals. This time He would speak directly to His people. He would restore His people and give them hope for the future. And, in doing so, He would open the eyes of His people, letting them see who they are in light of who God is. Now God would establish His kingdom; for on this day, in the city of David, a child was born who is Christ the Lord.
It was indeed a very holy night, the night He became one of us.

Immanuel – God. With. Us.

Amen!

the Incarnation

Previous Post

December 11, 2020

Pro-Life or Anti-Abortion

Next Post

December 28, 2020 The Courage to Be

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Atonement Bible Book Review Church History Church/Culture Creative Deconstruction Deconstruction & Reconstruction Discipleship End Times Fun with Philosophy Incarnation Issues Jesus Meaning News Philosophy Podcast Polemic Political Problem of Evil Progressive Christianity Questions Return of Christ Second Coming Sexuality The Church Theology Truth Truth Uncategorized Universalism Women in Ministry

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020

Follow Us!

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Lord, why do you stand far off?"

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Job Jeremiah Moses

Books by This Author Books by UNenlightenment

See All Titles »

Related posts from UNenlightenment

Progressive Christian

After the Eulogy Comes the Resurrection

UNenlightenment

Progressive Christian

A Eulogy for the Sleeping Church

UNenlightenment

Progressive Christian

Trump’s America or Constantine’s Rome?

UNenlightenment

Progressive Christian

Are Christian Nationalists Behind our Involvement with Iran?

UNenlightenment

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

What Being a Modern-Day Apostle Means to Me

In my last column, I discussed the ins and outs of modern-day...

Did Ancient China Once Worship the God of...

Across human history, a common thread weaves through the origins of the...

Love Your Neighbor – Including Earth-Kin: Lev. 19,...

God’s command to love your neighbor means acting in an ethical and...

Lead a Church Study of “Jesus and Lao...

Guest writer Jack Thomas (The Irreverent Reverend) reflects on leading his church...

Pastoral Wisdom for Responding to Sermon Pushback

Getting sermon pushback on your social justice sermon? Learn practical, Proverbs-based strategies...

Principles for Understanding the Apostolic Ministry Today

Whenever people discover that my formal ministry title is "apostle," as in...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos