The
Incarnation of the Logos
When
the time was ripe, God sent His Son to become man "through the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary." When was the time ripe? When man had suffered enough
through his disobedience and the Fall; when man himself sought salvation; when
the ancient wise men had prepared humanity for the Heavenly Redeemer; when the
Old Testament had educated man to accept Christ; when there was one empire in
all the known world, established by Alexander the Great and his descendants and
continued by the Roman Empire; when there was a common language, the Greek
language, spoken even in Rome--then the Logos was incarnated. Then the second
Person of the Holy Trinity left Heaven and came down to earth as God and
God-man. Archangel Gabriel brought the message to the Virgin Mary. He told her
that through the Holy Spirit she would give birth to a son. Then Christ was conceived,
1991 years ago. With His birth as man, history was divided into two
divisions--before and after Christ. The counting of time started all over
again.
"The
Word became flesh" (John, 1:14). From the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
the second person of the Holy Trinity was incarnated. While He remained perfect
God, He became perfect man. And one might ask, How could a true God be born of
a human mother? It is an unexplainable phenomenon. It is only understood as a
miracle. "Whenever God wishes, the order of nature is overturned."
The order of nature is twice overturned here: we have a virgin birth and the
infinite God filling a woman's womb, and being born as a whole and perfect man.
There is no logical explanation for these happenings. Christ is a God-man. He
is perfect God and perfect man. And at the same time He is one person; that is,
one essence with two natures, the Godly and the human. "Dual in nature but
one in essence." These two natures are unconfusedly united, so that they
form one person but at the same time are not confused.
This
God-man, "dual in nature but one in substance," the "fulfilment
of embodied divinity," was born in time and place as a human being, in
Bethlehem of Judea, under the most unexpected conditions. The Roman Emperor had
decreed that everyone was to return to his place of birth for the census. The
elderly Joseph set out with his bride. They arrived at Bethlehem, their
village. They knocked at doors, but none were open to them. "There was no
room at the inn." They took refuge in a cave, a manger for animals, to
escape the night cold. There, on that "night filled with miracles, night
filled with charms," the God-man was born, the Redeemer, the Saviour of
the world. The Heavens shone brightly. Angels descended and ascended singing,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will among
men" (Luke, 2:14). The angels proclaimed it to the shepherds, who ran to
worship Him. A star guided the Magi from the East. They discussed it with
Herod. He, who hated God, guilefully pretended that he wanted to worship the
new-born King. Actually, he wished to kill Him. The Magi found the God-man.
They worshipped Him. An angel revealed Herod's plans to them. Secretly, they
departed. They returned to their own lands. Herod realized that they had left
without saying anything to him. He was enraged. He slaughtered fourteen
thousand children, two years and under, hoping to kill the God-man. But he was
outwitted. Another angel warned Joseph of Herod's plans and suggested that he
take Mary and the child and depart for Egypt, which they did. They returned
when Herod died. And this is how Christ was born.
However,
why was He born in such a simple way? Why in such humility? Why not in a way
that would have made Him accepted as King? Why was it necessary for Him to be
hidden from Herod? Had he ceased being God? No. However, He was born as perfect
man, and behaved as a man. He had the natural needs of man. The divine nature
did not overwhelm the human nature, nor the human, the divine. How could it
have been otherwise? The infinite God could not be overwhelmed by His creation,
finite man. He condescended to humble Himself, to become man, to put on human
flesh, as man in baptism puts on Christ. As Christ descended, man ascended. As
God was incarnated, man was able to become God-like.
Whatever
we write, it is impossible to explain the mystery of the Incarnation. "The
mystery does not lend itself to research." The Incarnation of the Logos is
and shall remain a mystery. It was brought about mysteriously through God's
love for man and His desire to save him.
Son and Word of God, Who
through Your love for man became man to save him, You accepted extreme
humility. You came without glory and honour. You came to Your creation and Your
creation did not know You and accept You. It did not receive You. They closed
the door to You. They compelled You to be born in a manger. They compelled You
to flee to Egypt, to survive the rage of Your servant Herod. And You accepted
it all without protest, even though You were God and man, almighty. We express
admiration for Your humility. We have Your meekness and tolerance as examples.
Together with the angels, shepherds, and Magi, we glorify and worship Your
birth. We accept Your divine and human nature. Hear our prayer. Overlook our
ingratitude, our inhospitality, and the animalistic behaviour of a few. You
"wish all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth."
You, O Christ, "on Your shoulders carried our deceived nature and
ascending to Heaven brought it before God the Father." You, O Lord, take
every deceived nature, every man, and raise him to Heaven. Bring him to the One
Who is God and Father.