The Implications of Yahweh’s Incarnation
If Yahweh – our Creator – came to us in the flesh, then there are profound implications that impact the whole of humanity:
Matthew 1:22-23 (CSB) Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
The first implication is profoundly good news: “God is with us”.
Just consider the profound ramifications of what it means that God is with us:
– God is not far off
– God’s glory has come near to our trials and tribulations
– God is personally with us
The implications of this are too vast to articulate: they impact the nature of human existence at its very core. It means that the great chasm between God and humanity has been bridged by God – not by mankind’s effort – and the darkness that enveloped the world because of its sin has been eliminated; it means that Light has come into the world!
The Light is Jesus, who shows and reveals Yahweh to the world:
Colossians 1:15-17, 19-20 (CSB) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
1st John 5:20 (CSB) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
The incredibly good news of Jesus is that he is Yahweh – the creator of all things, both visible and invisible – and that the One who was “before everything” now dwells with us, bringing the fullness of God to bear upon mankind for the purpose of reconciling us to himself. He is the true God and eternal life itself: that is a powerful truth that transforms us from the inside out. Therefore, because Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh with us, eternal life itself is with us; death is conquered and we are restored to God according to his glorious design.
The goodwill and love of the Father himself is our mediator on earth: Jesus – being the goodwill and love of God – is our Advocate and the High Priest of our heavenly confession so that all mankind, both rich and poor, the noble and the rejected, the mighty and the worthless, all come to Yahweh himself to find goodwill and love; the good news of Jesus is that Yahweh himself freely provided for our atonement so that in Yahweh himself we find “wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1st Corinthians 1:30). What marvelous good news!
But the most profound implication is this:
John 14:6 (CSB) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Unless you come to Yahweh in the flesh – Jesus Christ – you cannot receive him. Those who reject that Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh, have rejected Yahweh himself and cannot come to him.
Biblical Reasons 