[review previous article] [advance to next article]
     We ended the last article with this question:  “If Jesus was human, how could he save us from death?”  We have saved the greatest parts of the divine mystery to the last, which is actually the beginning of the unfolding of the “mystery which has been hidden from ages… but now has been revealed to His saints” (Colossians 1:26).

     If the Mosaic Covenant God made with ancient Israel tells us anything, it is we are hopelessly incapable of saving ourselves.  Yet God commanded perfect obedience to all 613 laws of that covenant.  Beginning with the 10 commandments, some required the sinner to die.  Yes, idolatry, adultery, violating Sabbath laws and dishonoring parents required capital punishment.  Further, it reflects how serious God is about sin and our desperate condition — condemned to an eternal hell.  How could a person be saved from death?

     God in His infinite and unfathomable love planned to save man even before He created the world (2 Timothy 1:9).  How?  John boldly opens His gospel account, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God….  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 2, 14).  The apostle Paul adds, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman….” (Galatians 4:4).
     Jesus is referred to as the Son of man and also the Son of God.  How can He be both human and deity?  That the apostles saw Him as a human (e.g., 1 John 1:1-4; 20:24-27) attests to the fact he was born of woman.  How did the Word (deity) come in the flesh?

     Matthew declared, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”  An angel told, “Joseph… that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son….” (Matthew 1:18-23; Isaiah 7:14).  The beginning of the mystery revealed!

[review previous article] [advance to next article]