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The Incarnation - March 2026
Vol. CVIII Number 1 March 2026.
Contents
THE INCARNATION
THE INCARNATION
By G Campbell Morgan
EDITOR’S LETTER
THE CHRIST
By J C Metcalfe
CHRIST IS UNIQUE
By Alan Greenbank
TWO DAYS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST
By David Hamshire
THE WORD BECAME FLESH
By Ruth Paxson
ANCIENT CHRISTIAN THOUGHTS
By The Church Fathers
“Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
(John 1 v17).
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THE INCARNATION.
By G Campbell Morgan
The Son of God appeared that He might destroy the works of the devil. The Incarnation was not only the birth of a child in whom we learn the secret of childhood and in whom later we see the glories of adulthood. All that is true, but it is more. God Himself was planning to destroy the works of the devil. To destroy means to dissolve. It is the same word that is used about freeing us from our sins, or more graphically it is the word used in Acts when we read that the ship was broken to pieces. Jesus appeared to do a work in human history, the result of which would be that the works of the devil would lose their power. He came to destroy death by the gift of life. He appeared to destroy darkness by the gift of light, and to destroy hatred by the gift of love. He appeared to bring the positive which remakes and encourages. Christ has bestowed on us His gift of life. “Now this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God” (John 17 v3).
The gift of life was to destroy death. The gift of light always comes out of life. Light means knowledge, hope and guidance, so that there is no more aimless wandering. By bringing light into human life and into the world, Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil. He destroyed hatred by love, and I am not using the word lightly as we often do, I am using it in all its rich, spacious and gracious meaning. When writing to the Galatians, Paul gives kindness as one of the qualities of love, which is the doing of small things out of pure love. All these things destroy the works of the devil. Hatred, jealousy and selfishness are destroyed by showing love which is the warmth of life. He destroys lawlessness and gives passion for the rights of God and for service to others. We find ourselves in the perfect freedom of becoming the servants of the infinite Lord of Love.
Twenty centuries ago the Son of God appeared, and during those centuries in the lives of thousands He has destroyed the works of the devil, mastered death by the gift of life, cast darkness out by the incoming light, turned the selfishness of jealousy into love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He has taken hold of lawless men and women and made them into the willing servants of God.
Do not forget the meaning of the Incarnation. Historically it was the invasion of human history by One who snatched the sceptre from the usurper. It was the intrusion of One into human history who dissolved the works of the devil and caused them to break and fail. “How long Lord?” is the cry of our hearts today. Let us take heart as we look back and know that the victorious One has been active for centuries and is moving towards His return. The works of the devil are still obvious, the works of the flesh are clear, but the fruit of the Spirit of life which came through the Advent of Christ is more powerful. All over the world, on the branches of the Vine of the Father’s planting, rich clusters of fruit are found.
The Incarnation was the coming of One who is the Strongest and armed to destroy the works of the devil in our lives. He is the One who appeared to destroy all the works of the death, darkness, hatred and rebellion that may be troubling you. I tell you not just a theory, but the testimony of history proves this truth. The forces of Christ have operated and are operating, and the things of evil are falling into decay. He appeared to destroy the works of the devil. If you realise that there are wrong things in your life then turn with full heart to the One who in all the power of His gracious victory will set you free.
From ‘The Purposes of the Incarnation’.
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THE EDITOR’S LETTER.
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the March issue. We are a few months into 2026 and the Lord still tarries, yet we continue onwards and upwards with the good calling of Christ to preach to the nations the unsurpassable riches of the Gospel. Our theme is the Incarnation. It is with wonder that I have put together this issue, which mainly concentrates on this theme of the Divine Lord Jesus Christ becoming human and living among us. He chose a virgin’s womb to become flesh, the incorruptible seed, so that we would become Christ-like, each a temple, making up the Body. The theme was chosen in obedience, so this issue is here to challenge, inspire and edify you, the reader, in the run up to the Easter celebrations of His death and resurrection.
In Christ,
Mark
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THE CHRIST.
By J C Metcalfe
The title “The Christ", is the official name of the long promised and long expected Saviour, which indicated His Kingly authority and His position as our mediator, the Servant of the Lord. Jesus was His common name among people during His lifetime, and He is generally called this in the Gospels, while Christ or Jesus Christ is generally used in the Epistles. Christ is the One Who has the keys of death and hell. Christ is the anointed Priest Who alone can pardon sinners. Christ is the Fountain of living waters in Whom alone we can be cleansed. Christ is the Prince and Saviour Who alone can give repentance and remission of sins. In Him all fullness dwells. He is the Way, the Door, the Light, the Life, the Shepherd and the Altar of Refuge. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5 v12). We all need to understand this.
It is indeed difficult to extract references, which can give a true picture of His greatness and glory with just over 300 places where His title is used on its own to select from. For this reason, the best way of showing something of the abundant treasure that can be discovered by anyone taking the time to do so is to look at some key verses.
In Luke we are thrilled by the declaration of the angel to shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord” (2 v11). The baby Jesus received His official title direct from Heaven. Already this had been revealed to “Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah” (Luke 2 v25-26). When he saw the baby Jesus in the Temple, he at once recognised the fulfilment of this promise, and exclaimed, “my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2 v30). The story unfolds further when the people were questioning if John the Baptist was the Christ (Luke 3 v15). John’s reply was to point them to Jesus.
It seems strange perhaps that the next to give witness to Him are evil spirits. “And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ” (Luke 4 v41). Is it possible that James had this in mind when he wrote, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2 v19). There are many doubts and denials put about by people in their darkness and ignorance denying that Jesus is the Christ, but there is no uncertainty on this subject in the minds of the powers of evil. They recognise Him and His supremacy, and are afraid.
Luke records the statement of Peter taught by revelation direct from God. Jesus said, “‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘God’s Messiah’” (Luke 9 v20). Moving on, we find the Sanhedrin questioning Jesus, “If you are the Christ, tell us” (Luke 22 v67). In response, He paints the picture to them of His advent glory, when He will be manifested to the whole world as the Christ of God, “the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Mighty God” (Luke 22 v69). We see how this reply disturbed them, by the way they charged Him before Pilate, and then vented their anger on Him as He hung on the Cross.
Furthermore, on the Emmaus Road the Risen Lord said, “Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24 v26). Then He explained to them in the Scriptures. He is indeed the central theme of the Bible, the Christ, the Saviour.
In Peter’s First Epistle there are references of interest. Two of these occur in a single verse in chapter one which, looking back to the Old Testament prophets, says they were, “inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories” (1 Peter 1 v11). Then we are told that our redemption from empty tradition is secured by “the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1 v19). What an infinitely valuable outpoured life.
Peter summons every Christian to a share in the fellowship of His suffering, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2 v21). The next three verses give us an even fuller picture of His sinlessness, His meekness and His sacrificial love for us. The Christian life is then described as “your good behaviour” in Christ (3 16) and this is what results from our union with Him. This life has nothing to do with escapism, it is an acceptance of the close fellowship with Him that combats evil by being in union with Him and His death, so that others may escape from the bondage to sin in which they are held.
The same thought of the privilege of suffering with Him is found in these words, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests on you” (1 Peter 4 v12-14).
There are so many amazing glimpses of the wonder of Christ in the Bible, such as the victory of His Calvary sacrifice, His representing us in His Father’s presence, and His future manifestation in glory. This makes me pray that the central figure of the crucified, risen Christ may stand out to all who dip into the Word, making them even more hungry for Him. The veil of ignorance and darkness over heart and mind, which stops people seeing God, is only abolished in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3 v14).
From: ‘Jesus Christ our Lord’.
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CHRIST IS UNIQUE.
By Alan Greenbank
As born-again children of God, we never need to be on the defensive about our faith in the Lord Jesus. Apologies are out of place here, because of the Christian message is unique. There are a great number of religions in this world. Some of these have followers in thousands, and others in hundreds of millions. Europe is full of religious groupings that are as strong as ever.
The casual, secular observer of the world religious scene normally displays an ambivalent, tolerant attitude, giving the impression that all religions have their good points and that there is not much to choose between them if a person feels in need of such things. “Take your pick, any of them could be helpful and any of them could be right. Toss a coin and see which way it falls.”
But that is a sadly dangerous attitude with a fatal flaw at its heart. The implication of putting all religions on an equal footing is that you are putting the founders of those religions on an equal footing and that can never be. In plain terms, the Lord Jesus is totally unique, and He stands alone.
I cannot deviate from the Scriptures’ teachings, because it is the infallible and inerrant Word of God. My Bible clearly teaches the truth which heads this article, that the Lord Jesus is unique. This is essential truth.
Let us start with the unique conception of the Lord Jesus. It is a foundational truth and, for that reason, has been under attack from agnostics down through the centuries and from recent worldly wisdom. Take it away and you have weakened the Christian message to the point mentioned above, where the Christian message is equated with other world religions.
Scripture teaches that which we rest our faith upon in Luke chapter 1, verses 26 to 35. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to Mary with a message of dramatic importance. “You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call Him Jesus” (Luke 1 v31). Mary’s initial fear of the angel turned to disbelief when she heard the message. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1 v34). Gabriel’s answer explains in simple yet profound terms how the unique conception of the Saviour would take place. “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1 v35).
No human father was involved in the conception of the Lord Jesus, which makes Him completely different from every other human being born into this world. Each of the billions of humans who have existed since Adam and Eve has had a human mother and a human father, but not so my Saviour. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
It is worth noting at this point that, when the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem, that was simply the commencement of His earthly life, for He had always existed as part of the eternal, triune Godhead. Paul wrote, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1 v17). In the majestic opening to his gospel, John spoke so clearly of the Saviour’s pre-existence and the fact that He was present and instrumental in creation, when he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1 v 1-3). But the eternal Son of God became flesh and dwelt among us, the significant difference being that He was born of a virgin.
This leads on to the unique life of the Lord Jesus. We could concentrate on His unique teaching or on the unique miracles which He performed, but consider another vital point which actually springs from His virgin birth. He was sinless. For the thirty-three years of His earthly life, He lived a life of total perfection.
It is sobering to think of the power of sin within human nature. Following the disobedience of Adam and Eve, a son was born to them whose name was Cain, the first child ever to be conceived and born in the normal way. The sin of his parents was passed on to him, for he actually murdered his own brother, Abel. And sin has affected every single individual born into this world with but one exception, the unique Son of God. Go to the remotest place on earth and you will find sinners. Go to the most advanced university in the world and choose a professor whose intellect cannot be equalled. He also will be a sinner, but the Lord Jesus was sinless.
Think too of some to the unique claims of the Lord Jesus. We are thinking of a man Who was totally human. One Who walked and talked. Who ate and drank. Who became tired and slept, but Who said on one occasion, “I and the Father are One” (John 10 v30). This caused such fury among the Jewish leaders that they took up stones to put Him to death for blasphemy. When He questioned the reasons for their actions they replied, “‘We are not stoning You for any good work,' they replied, ‘but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God’” (John 10 v33). Make no mistake about it, He knew the implications of His words and it was an amazing claim. Indeed, it was a unique claim.
That, of course, was not an isolated incident. Earlier in John’s Gospel, another sentence from the Saviour’s lips provoked a similar, violent reaction. “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5 v17). The Jews response was to attempt to kill Him, because He said that God was “His own Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5 v18). Again, He knew the implications of His words and it was an astounding claim. Indeed, it was a unique claim. Exactly the same can be said about His reply when Philip expressed a desire to see the Father. The answer given by the Lord is amazing. “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14 v9). Such a claim from anybody else would certainly be a case of presumptuous blasphemy, but it was difficult to refute such affirmations of Deity from this Man. After all, he had healed many from their sicknesses. He had calmed a raging storm with a simple command. He had fed a hungry crowd of thousands from five simple loaves and two small fishes. He had actually raised three people from the dead, including one who had been buried for four days. This was no ordinary man. He could do absolutely anything, so some note had to be taken of HIS words.
He claimed to forgive sins and what a disturbance that caused. The Jews knew only too well that such action is the sole prerogative of God alone and Jesus did not argue the point. He simply healed a paralysed man who had been let down through the roof, therefore demonstrating in a very tangible way that He was God incarnate. Another fact is that He accepted worship, having told satan that only God must be worshipped (Luke 4 v8). Yes, He was utterly unique in His claims.
We move on in the story and think of the events surrounding His passion. Here we are driven to consider the unique death of the Lord Jesus. We know that all humans must die, death being the result of sin and all are sinners. God’s Son had to die, despite being sinless, because He gave His life for us. This is the very heart of the Gospel message. He took our sins upon Himself, that we might be reconciled to God through faith in Him. It was a unique death in many ways.
For example, it was the Lamb of God dying as the final sacrifice for sins and fulfilling all the types of the Levitical system of sacrifices and offerings. This is made clear in various verses in the epistle to the Hebrews, such as, “But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10 v12). No other human could have done that. He was the only sinless One. His sacrificial death was unique.
Consider also that it was a substitutionary death. HE bore the punishment that WE deserve. “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15 v3), wrote Paul. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3 v18), wrote Peter. The Lord Jesus spoke in similar terms, “The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10 v11). Nor is this simply a New Testament concept, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53 v5). Nobody else could have done that. It was unique.
Think also of the mystery of His death. God is immortal and yet He died in the person of His Son. Charles Wesley wrote of that mystery in one great hymn:
’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love Divine!
’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
Yes, in the person of His Son, God tasted death for everyone (Hebrews 2 v9), thereby drawing the sting of death. “He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2 v14-15). It was totally unique.
There is also the fact that His death was voluntary. He chose to give His life. Twelve legions of angels could have been summoned to delivery Him. Pontius Pilate could have had no power over Him except it was given to him from above. But Jesus used unique words to explain the voluntary nature of His death. "I lay down My life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father” (John 10 v17-18). No other person could have stated such things. It is unquestionably unique.
We must leave the events of Good Friday and move on to Easter Sunday. Our final point is the unique resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Others were raised from the dead for a period but then had to pass through the gates of death again. But not so with the eternal Son of God. We know that His body was wrapped in grave clothes and laid in the unused tomb which was situated in the garden of Joseph of Arimathea. We know that a great stone was rolled across the door of that grave. We know that the seal of the High Priest was placed upon the stone and that a guard of soldiers was posted to ensure that the body could not be stolen. Praise God that those things were done because they highlight the miracle that followed.
God raised His Son from the grave. A million tons of rocks across the entrance could not have held Him. Ten thousand hand-picked soldiers from the might of the Roman army could not have prevented His resurrection, because God raised Him (Acts 3 v15). The grave could not contain the Prince of Life. He was the Mighty Conqueror who trod underfoot all the combined powers of death, hell and the devil. In this one mighty act, He “destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1 v10).
Thus He was declared to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1 v4). It is as if God was declaring for all time, “This is My Son. I have raised Him as the once-for-all, final and infallible proof of the fact that He is My Son. Look to Him and be saved.” On various occasions He appeared to His disciples between His resurrection and ascension. They were then quite prepared to risk their lives in declaring that He is alive. Our faith, therefore, is rooted in the historic fact that Jesus rose from the dead and we are building on a sure foundation.
If only one of the points mentioned above was brought to our attention, we would probably dismiss it as fiction, but the pieces of the jigsaw join tightly. The pre-existence of the Lord Jesus led to the necessity of His unique conception. That led to His uniquely sinless life and claims of equality with the Father. That leads to his unique death which was the very reason for His coming into this world. And the final piece of the jigsaw is His unique resurrection whereby He demonstrated His mastery over the grave.
So let us finish where we started. We have no need to be on the defensive about our faith. Apologies are out of place. The historical figure of the Lord Jesus can never be classified as anything other than totally distinctive. He stands alone as the utterly unique Son of God.
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TWO DAYS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
By David Hamshire
In November 1933, the year when Adolf Hitler assumed power, a gathering of nearly 20,000 German churchgoers, called for the removal of the Old Testament from their German Bibles, the recognition of Hitler as the completion of the Reformation, and that baptised Jews were to be dismissed from the Church. The reason, they were told by their church leaders, was that the Old Testament Scriptures was “scriptural heresy".
So why is it that some church leaders and others, do not see the Old Testament as contributing to the basic principles of the Christian faith? Is it possible to understand the Gospel of the Lord Jesus by laying aside what the Old Testament says about Him?
To answer these questions, it is relevant to recall that not a word of the New Testament Scriptures existed until many years after the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, recording the events in His life which are described many times in the Old Testament.
The purpose of this article is to explore two days in the life of Jesus and so demonstrate the importance of the Old Testament. For some, they are like the disposing of an unloved item to a charity shop, its owner being unaware that it could make them rich beyond their wildest dreams.
The Scripture I’ve chosen to illustrate this is, “Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom Jesus had raised from the dead” (John 12 v1). Included in this Scripture is a particular day, “six days before the Passover.” It was the day when Jesus arrived in Bethany, five days before His fellow Jews called on the Gentiles then living in Jerusalem for Him to be crucified.
The timing of the arrival of Jesus in Bethany is important because it took place on this historic day, the day when Mary, one of the two sisters of Lazarus, took a pint of expensive perfume and anointed His feet. Mary then wiped His feet with her hair. (John 11 v2 and 12 v3). John recorded that after Mary had acted on the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the whole house was then filled with the fragrance of the precious oil. Mary’s act was an important outward expression of her inner devotion, combining five key features:
1. The Holiness of Jesus.
2. The impending death of Jesus.
3. The subsequent burial of Jesus.
4. The resurrection of Jesus.
5. The ascension of Jesus.
Therefore, is the anointing by Mary of Jesus on the ninth day of the first month in the Biblical calendar, in any way related to the Old Testament Scriptures?
John recorded that the “next day” Jesus journeyed the two miles from Bethany to Jerusalem, and on His entry into the city a multitude of people greeted Him, followed with shouts of joy and the waving of palm branches. The people cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel” (John 12 v12–13). It is also interesting to note that the first part of this declaration is a direct quote from Psalm 118 v26.
Although His disciples had been with Jesus for up to three-and-a-half years, it seems they were still unprepared for what was taking place on this historic day, the tenth day of the first month. However, “Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about Him and that these things had been done to Him” by their fellow Jews (John 12 v16).
So where in Scripture were these two events on consecutive days, Mary’s anointing of Jesus and His entry into Jerusalem, “written about Him”? Clearly, not in the New Testament, but as evidenced in the much older writings of the Old Testament.
Passion Week, or Holy Week is a week of seven days, and began “Six Days before Passover” and commenced with what Mary carried out when she anointed Jesus to confirm His Holiness. It also included what took place the following day when Jesus entered Jerusalem.
We know from the Old Testament book of Exodus, that God’s “Pass-Over” of the Children of Israel during their time of slavery in Egypt, took place at midnight on the 15th day of the first month in the Biblical calendar (Exodus 12 v18–29). The Preparation Day for God’s “Pass-Over” took place earlier, during the previous day, the 14th day of the first month, when the Passover lambs were killed in preparation for God to “Pass-Over” Egypt. The 15th day was also the day when the Children of Israel left Egypt having gained their freedom from slavery and oppression, in Numbers 33 v3.
By design therefore, “Six Days” before God “Passed-Over” Egypt, takes us back to the 9th day of the first month. i.e., the 9th day was followed by the 10th, 11th and so on up to the 15th. Why, therefore, was the 9th day of the first month in the Biblical calendar so vitally important?
We need to recall that what John referred to as the “next day” was the 10th day of the first month. In Exodus 12 we read, “Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ‘This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household’” (v1-3).
To enable the Children of Israel to leave Egypt, the 10th day of the first month was a selected day for Israel’s destiny. It was the day when lambs without blemish or fault were chosen and set aside to be killed on the 14th day with God’s “Pass-over”, taking place a few hours later at midnight. In Hebrew, ten is representative of original perfection.
The importance of the 10th day for Moses and God’s people is that it is identical to the events which took place in Jerusalem the day after Mary had anointed the feet of Jesus and then wiped His feet with her hair. In her obedience, Mary “Sanctified” Jesus for the day of His burial. Jesus Himself confirmed this, when Judas Iscariot criticised Mary for what she had done, Jesus said to him, “Let her alone, she has kept this for the day of My burial” (John 12 v7). But why was it required for Mary to “Sanctify” Jesus for His burial in order for Him to be Holy? Was He not “Sanctified” already, Jesus being the Holy Son of God?
Having confirmed His Holiness, Mary’s act led to Jesus fulfilling the Psalm, “you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay” (16 v10). This prophecy of David, a Michtam or Psalm of particular significance possibly meaning “precious”, includes the resurrection of Jesus and His defeat of death. "Your faithful one" refers to Him as being God’s chosen Messenger. And “nor seeing decay" refers to the normal rotting of a physical body after a person has died.
These Old Testament prophecies assure the reader that Jesus was destined to defeat the usual process of decomposition, and that after three days and nights His physical body was to be resurrected. In Hebrew, the number three is representative of Divine perfection. Consequently, it was intended by God that the resurrection of Jesus could only have taken place because Mary had “Sanctified” God’s Son on the 9th day. In Hebrew, nine represents “The Completeness of an Issue”. Nine is made up of three times three and so nine also indicates, “The Completeness of Divine Perfection”.
The names Joshua and Jesus are linguistically connected, both stemming from the Hebrew name Yeshua, which means “Salvation” or “God is Salvation”. Yeshua is a shortened form of the Hebrew name “Yehoshua”, which is the name known in English as Joshua. While both names share the same root and meaning, they refer to different individuals. Joshua refers to the Biblical figure who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, and Jesus who will lead believers into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Earlier, Joshua, or Yehoshua, came into his own with a prophetic role to fulfil. “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you’” (Joshua 3 v5). The Children of Israel were about to enter the Promised Land. Consecrate means to sanctify and to make holy.
For the Children of Israel after four hundred years of slavery in Egypt, followed by forty years of wandering in the wilderness of Sinai, what was it that tomorrow would bring for them after they had “Sanctified” themselves on the previous 9th day?
Historically, and also prophetically, the book of Joshua explains. “On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho” (Joshua 4 v19). Having crossed the Jordon valley on the 10th day of the first month, the day before was when the people prepared themselves. They “Sanctified" themselves for this life-changing event. It was their long-awaited entry into the Promised Land.
The timing of them being “Sanctified” was the same as that of Mary who anointed the feet of Jesus. On the 9th day, the children of Israel, and later Jesus, were “Sanctified” for the events of the following 10th day.
In the days of Joshua, the day after the 10th day was when the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan valley to enter the Promised Land. The name Jordan means, “transition, purification and the fulfilment of Divine promises”. Similarly, about 1400 years later and on the same day, Jesus crossed the Kidron valley to enter Jerusalem. The name Kidron means, "death, sorrow and judgment".
Additionally, when nearing the end of their time in Egypt, the 10th day of the first month was when the Children of Israel had chosen the lambs to be set-aside to be slain to become their Passover lambs. In other words, death, sorrow and judgment for them. Four days later, the lambs were killed in order for their blood to be smeared on the wooden door frames of their houses and for God to “Pass-over” His people at midnight, having observed the blood.
Employing the same idiom, Jesus’ blood was prophetically destined to mark the wooden cross on which He died. His own death, sorrow and judgment.
When Jesus walked into the city of Jerusalem on the 10th day to the people’s cry, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (John 12 v13), it was the day when His fate was sealed. It was the day when, “the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well” (John 12 v10). It is easy to miss who this “as well” refers to, but in this case it is Jesus.
According to Exodus 12 v18, then John 19 v14, 31 and 42, the 14th day of the first month when Jesus was crucified, had been appointed by God as the Preparation Day of the Passover. Compare this preparation day for the Passover with the following day when the people actually celebrated the Passover. This particular Passover celebration is not mentioned by the apostle John or any of the other writers of the New Testament.
By way of explanation, the death of Jesus took place on the 14th day, for the Chief Priests had decreed that it should not happen on the following day, the 15th, for this was when they would be holding their national Passover celebration (Mark 14 v2). However, according to Amos, God had earlier declared Himself absent from their festivals. (Amos 5 v21–24).
Following Mary’s anointing, in order to prepare Jesus for His death and burial, with no bodily corruption, five days later and in a reciprocal move to what Mary had carried out on the 9th day, Jesus replied to Peter’s assertion, “You shall never wash my feet”, by saying to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me” (John 13 v8).
For Peter to serve God, he too needed to allow Jesus to “Sanctify” him by the washing of his feet in order for Jesus to cleanse him, meaning:
1. Release from the power and consequences of temptation.
2. Release from the penalty of sin.
3. For Peter to receive the Holy Spirit and the gift of everlasting life.
These two consecutive days in the life of Jesus, the 9th and 10th of the first month in the Biblical calendar, and what they led to, His death on the 14th day of the first month, can only be fully understood by reference to the Old Testament.
It is the case that much of the Old Testament Scriptures were given by God for their application to take place in the New Testament period. Joshua 3 v5 and John 12 v3, as well as Joshua 4 v19 and John 12 v12–13 are two archetypal examples of this Biblical principal.
THE WORD BECAME FLESH.
By Ruth Paxson
“The Word became flesh” (John 1 v14). This statement is overwhelming. Out of the infinite into our time, from the unknowable, to the knowable, and from the language of Heaven understandable only by God alone to a language of humans. Jesus Christ, the Mediator, is the God-man. The eternal Son of God became the incarnate Son of Man, and Heaven came to earth.
In Hebrews chapter 1, the Mediator is Divine. He is called Lord, God and Son. In Hebrews chapter 2 He is human. He is called Jesus, Brother and High Priest. In chapter 1 He is as far above us as the heavens are above the earth. He is absolutely separate from us, unapproachable, incomprehensible and incomparable. In chapter 2 He is on the level of our humanity, He descended to come into human life. "But we do see Jesus, Who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2 v9).
In chapter 2 He is one with us, He has entered into our humanity, He has actually become part of our flesh and blood. "Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2 v11). "Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2 v14).
In chapter 2 He is the tender, sympathetic, understanding Son of Man, the gracious and gentle One. "For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2 v17-18).
Only a human could represent humanity as Mediator. Jesus, is the Mediator between God and humanity, the Incarnate Son, "the Word made flesh.”
From the beginning to the end of Scripture this story is told. Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and us is God, the Eternal Son, the Lord from Heaven, the Alpha and the Omega. The Incarnate Son, the Baby of Bethlehem and the Man of Galilee. HOW AMAZING THAT THE ETERNAL SON BECAME THE INCARNATE SON.
That Jesus Christ was a Divine-Human Mediator is not only a fact of revelation but of history as well. Not only the words of Scripture but the AD date on our calendar tells us that at some point of time "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2 v11-12).
Christ the Lord was a baby. A Saviour wrapped in cloths. The Creator of the universe was lying in a manger. The Author and Sustainer of life was born. The Father of eternity, beginning to count His life by days, weeks and years, as the God-man. It is a fact of revelation and of history that is amazing and awesome. In it we are face to face with the miracle of miracles and the mystery of mysteries.
Many have asked the question, how can such a thing be, that the Eternal Son of God become the Incarnate Son of Man? How was the uncreated Lord of glory born a baby in Bethlehem? The answer is plainly given in the proclamations of the angels to Joseph and to Mary. "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’” (Matthew 1 v20).
"But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call Him Jesus. ‘How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1 v30-31, 34-35).
Perhaps nothing in God's Holy Word challenges us to greater reverence and deeper humility than this Divine record of God's supernatural entrance into human life. Yet to the truly humble and reverent worshipper of faith there is no difficulty in accepting the statement of revelation that through the supernatural working of God the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Holy One called the Son of God. The person of faith reads and accepts these two announcements without making any attempt to explain this mystery because they humbly acknowledge that it was beyond all human understanding. In it is seen in Jesus Christ, the God-man of pure Deity and real humanity, very God and very Human. The supernatural is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those of faith see that a supernatural life demands a supernatural birth. They can then joyfully accept as true God's Divine revelation that in the origin of the God-man there was to be found the cooperation of Deity and humanity. They believe that Jesus Christ, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, as the Church has believed throughout the centuries.
Thus, the supernatural birth of the Lord Jesus is the link between eternity and time, between Heaven and earth, Deity and humanity, and God and humanity. Through the doorway of that supernatural conception there came into this world someone who had never lived before or since. In Him there is Deity and humanity each in its wholeness and completeness. He is the Son of God, the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father. Being such, He took on human nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and the Humanity, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, very God and very Man.
All that God is, Jesus Christ is. All that humans were pre-Fall He is. Nothing that belonged to Deity or to sinless humanity was lacking in Him. The Divine and the human nature are each fully in His unique personality. He is true God and true human-being in one person.
Even though the God-man is a person in whom God and humanity meet in a harmonious union yet the root of His wonderful personality is God. Through all eternity He was God. At one moment of time He became Man. The Son of God came from eternity, and the Son of Man began His Being. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1 v1). The Deity of Jesus is basic and primary. "The Word became flesh" (John 1 v14). “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you” (Luke 2 v11), and “a baby wrapped in cloths” (Luke 2 v12). The humanity of Jesus is secondary and equally essential. In the union of God and humanity God is the dominant factor. The incarnation is the humanising of deity and not the deification of humanity. The God-man is God who appeared in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
In the following Scripture passage we have a clear and beautiful revelation of the person of the God-man and the process by which He became such and His purpose. "Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2 v5-8).
He was the Eternal Son, "being in very nature God" and on an “equality with God” (v6). But because of Eden's tragedy and our need of redemption He did not count being on equality with God as a thing to be used to His advantage but by an act of self-emptying He qualified to be the world's Saviour. While not losing His nature as God, He became the Incarnate Son, "taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" and submitted to this temporarily.
He emptied Himself by permitting the glory and majesty to be covered and hidden for a while by the flesh, by voluntarily putting His several attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence under temporary limitations, and by placing Himself under the sovereign will of the Heavenly Father and under the control of the Holy Spirit.
For a time, His equality with God was hidden by the submission of the human to the Divine. The Word passed from His government in Heaven to obedience on Earth, and from cooperation in the Trinity to dependance on the will of the Father.
He humbled Himself. God took on human form, the Lord of glory was lowered to be united with human nature. In that humiliation He endured every conceivable suffering, the end being His cruel death on the Cross as a condemned criminal. His voluntary humbling was for a purpose. He became “obedient to death, even death on a cross" so that through His role as the Divine-Human Mediator He was to become humankind's abundant Saviour.
From: ‘Life on the Highest Plane’.
ANCIENT CHRISTIAN THOUGHTS.
By The Church Fathers
How could He have given Himself if He had not worn flesh? He offered His flesh and gave Himself for us, in order that by undergoing death, “He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2 v14). For this reason, we continually give thanks in the name of Jesus Christ. We do not bring to nothing the Grace which came to us through Him. For the coming of the Saviour in the flesh has been the ransom and salvation of all creation. (Athanasius, c. 296–298 – 373 AD).
It is, therefore, with an unmistakable tenderness that so great a wealth of Divine goodness has been poured out on us, dearly beloved. The truth Himself has “appeared” in a visible body. We ought, then to celebrate the Lord’s birth. (Leo the Great, c.391 – 461 AD).
Had Christ not been born in the flesh, He would not have been baptised, which is the theophany, or the manifestation. Nor would He have been crucified, which is the Passover. Nor would He have sent down the Spirit, which is Pentecost. Therefore, just as different rivers arise from a single source, these other feasts have their beginnings in the birth of Christ. (John Chrysostom, c.347 – 407 AD).
From: ‘Ancient Christian Devotional’.
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“The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.”
C S Lewis (1898-1963)