God’s greatest miracle was not just a work before men but was when God became a man. The incarnation — when God the Son was born as Jesus the man.

God’s greatest gift of love was not just a favor done for man but when God gave Himself to man. The incarnation — when He came in flesh as the babe of Mary.

To study the incarnation is to draw very near God. For here is where heaven bends down to touch the earth.  God joins man. Jesus is the God-man. God in the flesh.

What momentous truths are hidden in the simple story of the angel’s visit to Mary at Nazareth. Read it in Luke 1:26-38.

I. NECESSITY OF THE INCARNATION

Like a breath of fresh air to the strangling world, Gabriel’s words settle upon the young virgin’s mind: HE SHALL  BE GREAT. (verse 32). Think for a moment. Since Adam first sinned, mothers have brought their children into the world, “yet always the same monotonous result, a sinful man, a corrupt human nature.”

But at last! From the fallen race One was to arise Who would never stoop to sin. Now, see the twin truth:  Jesus not only rose up from the earth to be GREAT, He in a real sense came down from heaven. The Son humbled Himself to this experience.

According to the angel, the Savior was to be the “Son of the Highest” and rule over an eternal kingdom. He would have to be none less than the eternal God in flesh. Prophets, priests and kings all alike had through the ages sinned and fallen back to dust — unable to deliver themselves, let alone their fellows. But at last this “seed of the woman” was to bruise the serpent’s head.

II. MEANS OF ACCOMPLISHING THE INCARNATION

“How will this be…since I am a virgin?” asked the startled girl Mary.

The wondrous reply came back: “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.”

God is a 3-Person Being: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Son in answer to the Father’s will was to give Himself into the Spirit’s power who would, in turn, bring to us the Deliverer through Virgin Birth.

Behold, our God comes to us — through the humble door of the womb!

III. PRECIOUS IMPLICATIONS OF THE INCARNATION

Notice verse 35 of our text. Those very words seem to sing to the soul: “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.'”  Our Savior was to be one of us and also God.

Within the Trinity there was always the Son with the Father and Spirit. But now in a marvelous sense the Son was to be begotten into our world. He is God.

Friends, open wide your troubled hearts to this truth. Let its rays fall upon the darkened minds. Here is the very Savior we need. One Who is near enough to touch — even a real man — and yet great enough to save and transform — very God.

How near God has come. He is forever joined to man — one of us. “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 2:11.

Have you been ashamed of Him? Neglectful, or unbelieving?

Jesus is the ladder from heaven to earth, the way men can reach God. He is the God-man, our Lord and Savior. He is right now in heaven’s glory preparing for the everlasting Kingdom. You may share with Him in glory and rest forever if you come to God through Him.  Do this now in a prayer of surrender.