Theological Insight about the Incarnation

Even though Jesus was God, when He came to this world Jesus was a man. He set aside the attributes of deity (all-knowing, all-powerful, etc.), yet He was still almighty God by nature. The Father was "greater" than Jesus while He was on earth, but it never says the Father was "better" than Him, because by nature Jesus was Jehovah (Yahweh), the eternal God. This is the mystery of the incarnation. You can read Paul's definition in Philippians 2:5-11.

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:5-11

When Jesus said that He was "I Am" He was saying that He was "Yahweh" (Jehovah is a 16th Century German pronunciation, although there is no "J" sound in Hebrew). Yahweh is the name of God in the Old Testament, and comes from the same Hebrew root as "I AM".

"Jesus said, unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins." - John 8:24

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM." - John 8:58

"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:13-14

Paul said in Romans 10:9 that if anyone confesses with his mouth Jesus as "Lord" shall be saved. The word "Lord" is the Greek word "kurios" and is the equivalent for the Hebrew word "Yahweh". This was also used in the Septuagint (3rd Century BC Greek version of the Hebrew Bible) rendering of the Greek word "Kurios".

"if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved " - Romans 10:9

 

"Jesus is Lord" was "The Earliest Christian Creed" - Scholar and Historian F.F. Bruce

 

Joseph and Mary's Flight into Egypt, Herod's Slaughter of the Infants in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary Return to Israel, Archelaus Ruling in Judea, Joseph and Mary Settle in Nazareth, Jesus Grows Strong in Spirit, Theological Insight about the Incarnation, The Boy Jesus Comes to the Temple, The Dwelling Place of God

 

 

The Childhood of Jesus

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." - Luke 2:40

The New Testament - A Brief Overview

Brief History of the Childhood of Jesus Scriptures and Topics Covered: Joseph and Mary's Flight into Egypt (Mat 2:13-23). Herod's Slaughtering of the Infants (Mat 2:16-18). Joseph and Mary's Return to Israel (Mat 2:19-21). Archelaus Ruling in Judea (Mat 2:22). Joseph and Mary Settle in Nazareth (Mat 2:23; Lk 2:39). Jesus Grows Strong in Spirit (Lk 2:40). Jesus Visits Jerusalem (Lk 2:41-50). Jesus Increases in Wisdom (Lk 2:51-52).