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The Incarnation

This Christmas I have been contemplating a passage that I have never heard preached at Christmas.  It is Hebrews 2:14-18.

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
 
Although there is no baby in swaddling clothes in these verses, they powerfully describe the work of the incarnation - of God becoming man.  Christ came to share our flesh and blood to do several amazing things:
 
  1. He destroyed the power of the devil by destroying the power of death.
  2. He delivered the children from their life-long fear of death.
  3. He made propitiation for our sins.  He satisfied the wrath of God by satisfying God's justice.
  4. He has become our sympathetic High Priest, who can help us with all our trials and temptations because he knows what we are going through.

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