Category Archives: Incarnation

‘Most of the Christmas story is legend’

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I’ve mentioned before that this blog is nothing if not up-to-date.  So I’d like to turn the clock back a year to a widely-reported interview with The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.  The interview itself was broadcast on the BBC’s Radio Five on 19th December 2007.  By the time the Daily Mail got hold of it the following day, the headline was

Three Wise Men are just a legend, says Archbishop of Canterbury

And that paragon of faithful reporting adds with horror:-

Dr Rowan Williams says there is no evidence for the Magi

Dr Williams is also said to deny that Jesus was born in December, in a snow-covered stable, where he was visited by three wise men bearing gifts. …

Lk 2:12 – ‘This will be a sign to you’ – sermon notes

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There is something surprising about this: the humble circumstances of the Christ-child in the manger confirmed the angel’s announcement of a Saviour. We would expect it to be the other way round!

1. The angels who gave the sign

Angels appear from time to time within the pages of Scripture. We read of their activities in connection with creation, the giving of the Law, the birth of the Saviour, the temptation in the wilderness, the agony in Gethsemane, the resurrection, ascension and final judgement.…

Lk 2:25-35 – Simeon – sermon notes

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When Jesus Christ laid down his life on the cross of Calvary, it was an act not only of supreme love, but also of deepest humility.  The Son of God lowered himself to become a human being, and then descended still further to submit to death, even the brutal, shameful, accursed death of crucifixion.

Yet even while Jesus was being executed, his Father sent visible demonstrations of the fact that here was no ordinary man, and his was no ordinary death. …

Mt 1:18-25 – An interview with Joseph – sermon notes

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[Note: the following was presented in the form of a semi-scripted, role-played interview with ‘Joseph’]

A little earlier, we listened to a reading from Matthew’s Gospel, 1:18-25.  This is a very familiar story, and yet quite puzzling in many ways.  So I thought it would be good if we could get it straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were.  I’m very pleased to welcome a special guest.  Joseph, thankyou for coming along and agreeing to answer a few questions about how the birth of Jesus came about.…

Mt 2:11 – The visit of the Magi – sermon notes

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Matthew 2:11 – ‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ‘

To us, it’s as cosy as a Christmas tree and as comfortable as an old pair of slippers. Of course, we just couldn’t leave it alone, this story of the Magi from the East who came to visit the infant Jesus.…

Quotes on the Incarnation

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When Jesus came to earth he did not cease to be God; when he returned to heaven he did not cease to be man. (John Blanchard)

Jesus Christ is God in the form of man; as completely God as if he were not man; as completely man as if he were not God.  (A.J.F. Behrends)

Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltation of humanity.  (Phillips Brooks)

Christ uncrowned himself to crown us, and put off his robes to put on our rags, and came down from heaven to keep us out of hell. …

John 1:14 – The Word became flesh – sermon notes

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‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’

As clowns long to play Hamlet, so I have longed to preach from this great verse.  Now that I have the chance to do so, I feel like a child standing by the edge of some vast ocean, wanting to dive in and swim across, and yet afraid even to put his toe in the water, for fear of quickly finding himself completely out of his depth. …