Incarnation.

A call to worship.

Themes

Son of Man • Mystery • Christmas • The incarnation of Christ • Word becoming flesh

There’s nothing in all the books of fiction that we’ve ever contrived that comes even close to being as fantastic as is the truth of the incarnation of Christ.

Through a miraculous conception, He seemed, simply, to be: Joseph’s son.

---

Scripture reading

Luke 4:22

---

This call to worship¹ is four simple words recorded by the famous historian Luke. He records the story of Jesus teaching in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. And Luke records that when Jesus was done teaching, the others in the synagogue asked:

 “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

---

Prayer

God in heaven, 
there is much to be thankful for. 
Our list is long. 
And we confess 
that if it isn’t; 
it ought to be. 

At the top of our list 
is this profound reality: 
You incarnate — 
Jesus Christ, 
Son of Man. 
Through a miraculous conception, 
He seemed, simply, to be:
Joseph’s son. 

But, God of Wonder, 
in it 
is your profoundest 
and most unfathomable mystery 
in all the universe: 
the Christmas event — 
You, eternal God, 
born human.
 
There’s nothing in all the books of fiction
that we’ve ever contrived
that comes even close 
to being as fantastic 
as is Your truth 
of the incarnation of Christ.

All other profound events, 
worthy of that adjective, 
either prepare for this, 
exhibit this, 
or result from this profoundest 
of all events: 
the Word becoming flesh 
and dwelling among us —
dwelling among us… 
as merely Joseph’s son. 

You, God, 
without ever ceasing to be You, 
without ever ceasing to be God, 
actually became what You created 
in order to reconcile us to Yourself. 
Your love 
is so great.
Your mercy and your grace 
are so persistent.
Your desire to have us as Your own 
is so unrestrained 
that You performed an act 
of unfathomable unparalleled condescension.
Whatever edge 
the unbelievable might have, 
Your incarnation 
goes way, way beyond it.

The mystery of Christ 
runs the risk 
of being disbelieved 
precisely because 
it is so incredibly 
and wonderfully 
unbelievable.

God, You were in humanity. 

You, 
who was above creation, 
stepped into our human condition. 

You, 
the invisible one, 
made yourself visible 
in our flesh, 
with skin, 
hair, 
a face, 
organs, 
blood, 
muscle, 
and bone. 

You, 
who are from on high 
in the heavens, 
became in the likeness 
of earthly things.

You, 
the immaterial one, 
could be touched, 
handled, 
felt, 
held, 
hugged, 
even pierced.  

You, 
who are free — 
free beyond what we can possibly understand that word to truly mean — 
free in Your own nature, 
You came in the form of a slave.

You, 
who had once 
blessed all creation, 
became accursed.

You, 
who is all righteousness, 
became numbered among the transgressors. 

You, 
the truest and purest Life itself, 
came in the appearance of death.

In Jesus, 
You have joined yourself 
to us forever. 
Fully you without reserve.
Fully man without reserve.

He is of the same reality 
as You.
He is of the same reality 
as we are ourselves.

Exactly as You are.
And exactly as we are. 

To bridge the divide 
between You and us, 
the eternal Son of the eternal Father 
took our humanity 
into union with Himself.
In the incarnate One — 
Joseph’s son — 
You and man are now united. 

Everlasting God, here we are, 
gathered together as Your people, 
wanting to reflect a bit on You, 
and we scarce can take it in, 
this one simple truth: 
You became Son of Man. 

Help us again 
to realize that Your incarnation 
is the starting point 
for all reflection — 
really, the starting point for any reflection 
of any type at all. 

Help us to experience 
the incarnate Christ,
this morning. 

In His name we pray
Amen. 

---

1. This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, on Sunday, December 5, 2021.