INCARNATION
Have you ever considered the definition of the word “incarnation”? When you google the word you get the following definition. “Incarnation is the embodiment of a deity or spirit in a physical form, such as human or animal. The term is most famously used in Christianity to describe the belief that Jesus is God in human form.“
God came down to live like us. He walked among us. Yet, He (Yeshua) was still God. Again, I have to agree with Google. Please don’t consider this a common occurrence. “ The belief that Jesus is The Son of God who became flesh and lived on Earth. The concept is central to the faith and is often summarized as “the Word became flesh”.
Wow! The Word of God became flesh. Can you grasp the significance of that? How on earth did it happen?
THE ANNUNCIATION
It happened on a cold, dark, winter night in the town called Nazareth during the Hebraic month called Kislev. The virgin Mary was going about her usual evening activities. Suddenly an Angel,(Gabriel The Archangel,) appeared in front of her.
You can read the story in Luke 1:25-39. Gabriel spoke to Mary. He said “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you.”
Mary was perplexed. She wondered what this greeting meant. You might enjoy reading this article I wrote many years ago about my imagination of Mary’s thoughts. Here is that link: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/conception-of-christ/.
Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid. He said she had found favor with God. Can you imagine having an angel say you have found favor with God? I can’t think of anything better!
WHAT MARY MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT
The next words spoken were very heavy though. They were heavy words because of the tremendous responsibility. The angel spoke of how a young girl would bear the Son of God. This was HUGE in relation to her faith and in relation to the salvation of the whole earth.
Gabriel said, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son. And you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called The Son of The Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David. He will reign over the House of Jacob forever. Of His Kingdom there will be no end.”
DO NOT BE AFRAID
Whoa! What is going on? By now I’m understanding why the scriptures say Mary was afraid. Just seeing Gabriel in person would make one shake.
However, Gabriel’s message was probably the most important message ever delivered. It was delivered to a common, insignificant young girl from Nazareth. How was Mary to respond to such a message as this?
MARY’S RESPONSE
Mary’s response showed her great faith in God. She quickly responded, “Let it be to me as you have said.” Mary overcame her fears by trusting in God. We could all take a lesson.
When God reveals your life’s destiny, you must be strong enough to accept your part. You must live into it. Your heart, mind, body and soul must be obedient to the course God has presented to you. When you truly accept your part of His great plan, you have to surrender all. That is what happened with Mary. She completely surrendered herself to God’s will for her life.
Whenever we completely surrender our will to God’s will, the fruitfulness of new life begins. Through God’s Holy Spirit, in the form of a tiny embryo became Immanuel. God with Us was planted in Mary’s womb. For the next nine months she walked upon the earth with God living and growing inside of her.
Can you imagine?
WALKING WITH GOD INSIDE YOU
I hope you CAN imagine. Because that is what being “born again” “is all about. You are walking around the world with God growing inside of you. God’s Holy Spirit has impregnated you with new life. You are forever changed. This is just as it happened to Mary on that faithful day. It is also how we receive God’s Holy Spirit living within us when we are saved. Because Mary said “yes” we can also say “yes.”
Do you think Mary was careful from that point forward? I’d bet she was walking on egg-shells all the time. Mary would never do anything to hurt or stop the growth of Yeshua living inside her womb. Nor should we stop His living within us. We must do all that we can to help God’s Holy Spirit bring about the desired growth. It is this holy growing that will change the world. This growth is our salvation reaching and stretching for sanctification. We must cherish it and nourish it until it grows full-term.
KNOWING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
So it was, The Light of the World came to live with mankind.
This is the message of Hanukkah for those who are believers. The Light of the World, Immanuel, God with Us, has come to dwell with mankind. The historical legend of that first Hanukkah speaks of the oil for the Great Menorah. One day’s worth of oil lasted for eight days. The legend reflects and shadows the coming miracle of The Light of the World. God’s promise shines out to us. On the first Hanukkah it was explained in symbolism that God was going to send a Savior.
This miracle was promised by God to Eve from the beginning of the world just after the fall. Now, through Mary, God’s promise is fulfilled. This is the REAL meaning of Hanukkah.
THE REAL MEANING OF HANUKKAH
If you follow Yeshua, you will definitely want to join the celebration. This “Light of the World” who is Messiah, is the greatest miracle that ever happened. All of God’s plan for mankind depended upon this great miracle we celebrate with the lights of Hanukkah.
Nine months later, the people in the world see the birth of this baby living inside Mary’s womb. His birth happened in the Fall at the time of Sukkot. Hanukkah is the annual remembrance when many believers celebrate His conception. Hanukkah is always approximately nine months before Sukkot/Tabernacles. The conception happened during the season of winter. Symbolism from the first Hanukkah is the first glimpse of Him. Hanukkah is symbolic of when we celebrate His first-coming, the Incarnation. Immanuel. Christ with us!
JESUS IS STILL THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
Yes, the season IS all about Jesus. Maybe not all about His birth, but it is all about his coming to live inside the womb of Mary. Hanukkah was the time of the conception of Yeshua. He was the miracle and The Light of the World. This was the miracle that started the whole process of our salvation. It all began with one young girl who decided nothing was as important as her obedience to her Great God.
May we all learn to be as faithful as Mary. I pray The Light of the World, Immanuel, comes to live inside all of us. It is my hope the miracle of Hanukkah will reveal Yeshua to all people. I pray all people will believe and follow Him. He is The Light of The World. The God who once became a child, grew into a man. Yet, He was the Son of God. He grew into a Savior. We know that He will one day return to earth to become The King of Kings!