The Mystery of the Incarnation Madeleine L'Engle Second Lesson 14 Dec 2011

1. Through the Lens: the
Incarnation 2
14 December 2011

2. Journal Prompt
The mystery of
Christ, that He sunk
Himself into our
flesh, is beyond all
human
understanding.
Martin Luther

3. Share your perspective and
your art

4. In other words
But as flawed humans, we give only a vague hint
of God. Our broken reflection of God's image is
easily drowned out by our broken humanity.
Then, two thousand years ago, God came in his
fullness. He came to all of us in Jesus. The
incarnation is not owned, trademarked, or
controlled by any church. It belongs to every
human being. The incarnation is not something
that requires a distributor or middleman. It is a
gracious gift to every person
everywhere, religious or not. God gave himself to
us in Jesus.”
― Michael Spencer, Mere Churchianity: Finding

5. Billy Graham
Men and women, fettered and
bound, were incapable of coming to
God, so God in love and mercy
came down to earth to interact with
humans. Wonder of wonders! God
incarnate! God clothed in a human
body in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Scriptures unite in one voice to
declare this.

6. Jonathan Edwards
 “How astonishing is it that a person:
 who is blessed forever and is infinitely and essentially happy should endure
the greatest sufferings that ever were endured on earth!
 who is the supreme Lord and Judge of the world should be arraigned and
should stand at the judgment seat of mortal worms and then be
condemned.
 who is the living God and the fountain of life should be put to death.
 who created the world and gives life to all his creatures should be put to
death by his own creatures.
 of infinite majesty and glory, and so the object of the love, praises and
adoration of angels, should be mocked and spit upon by the vilest of men.
 infinitely good and who is love itself should suffer the greatest cruelty.
 who is infinitely beloved of the Father should be put to inexpressible
anguish under his own Father’s wrath.
 who is the King of heaven, who has heaven for his throne and earth for his
footstool, should be buried in the prison of the grave.
 How wonderful is this! And yet this is the way that God’s wisdom has fixed
upon as the way of sinners’ salvation, as neither unsuitable nor
dishonourable to Christ.”
Jonathan Edwards, “The Wisdom of God Displayed in the Way of Salvation,” in

7. Bryant Wright
Think about what Mary could have done. She could
have run away. She could have had an abortion.
And, like many unmarried pregnant women in that
time, Mary could have taken her own life. But how
did Mary respond? She chose a different path. Folks,
if ever you want to see a clear profession of faith,
look at the next words from her mouth. Mary said, "I
am willing to be a voluntary slave of the Lord. I am
willing to be a servant of God. May what the word of
God has said, may it come true!" What a woman!
What faith! Truly the greatest woman who ever lived,
for nothing any woman has ever done or will do is

8. After Annunciation
This is the irrational
season
When love blooms
bright and wild
Had Mary been filled
with reason
There’d have been no
room for the child.
The Ordering of Love,
2005
*The Weather of the
Heart* 1978

9. O Jesus, thank
you for being
born for us, God
in a baby,
wonderfully
impossible, but
true.