1. What is the supreme mystery with which the gospel confronts us?
The supreme mystery is, what Packer calls, “the Christmas message of Incarnation” (53). This is interesting as I, a seminary student, still do not even associate Christmas with “the Incarnation.” I will say, that the entire Incarnation is something that I am just now slightly beginning to learn about. Sadly, I am yet another product of a “churchgoing” culture and I have never had a Christmas where I did not hear the Christmas story about “baby Jesus.” That God had to humble himself to make himself a baby had never crossed my mind as majestic until I read this chapter. While I ragged on this chapter to my husband for being boring and academic, I really couldn’t be farther from the truth if I meditated on this chapter (as I am doing now). The incarnation is clearly incredible. I have never thought through the implications of God making himself man as a display of restraint or humility. How simple and profound. I am left with the sense of, “Why didn’t someone tell me this as a child?” and I take responsibility for not absorbing it through scripture since. But, when people think of Christmas, many non-believers think of the cute little Christmas story and have no real thoughts of the God behind the baby. In fact, without true scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit and invested time, one easily may have a weak view of God, as I did, from the baby Jesus that they imagine being associated with Christmas.
5. Why should the Incarnation move us to praise God for his humility?
Well, I am certainly no expert because until the last five minutes I had never praised God for Incarnation or his humility displayed therein. I cannot express how overwhelmed I am with the majesty and power of God that he would show restraint like that. My only way to verbalize such restraint is through two marriage analogies. And, lastly, I would like to add that restraint is an incredibly loving word.
Firstly, the Incarnation, while far more glorious than marriage, teaches me about God’s restraint and, therefore, love. One of the most powerful manners in which my husband shows me he loves me is his restraint. His sexual restraint prior to our marriage has time and time again overwhelmed me with love. I did nothing, yet I receive glorious freedom and joy in my sexuality with him. His restraint was a choice. A choice he made firstly for God, but also for me, that has blessed me tremendously.
The second example of restraint is that Matt took me on a weekend road trip to see Jersey Boys in Chicago. We saved our money, got excited, and planned for weeks leading up to the trip. When we got there we talked of how exciting the show would be. Not until intermission did Matt tell me that he had actually already seen the show with a professional cast! I was completely overwhelmed (that’s one of my favorite words to describe God, love and marriage) with his restraint in doing all of that just for my pleasure and benefit! He spent all that energy, time, money and secrecy so that I would not miss any of the pleasure or excitement of experiencing it for the first time.
Lastly, God’s restraint is incredible in that he should strike me dead for my sins, and yet he lavishes me with a wonderful husband, family, friends and physical and material blessings that I so much don’t deserve. What an overwhelming God we serve.
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2 comments:
First of all, there is nothing more attractive then a woman blogging about theology. I am a blessed man. Secondly, I love the part of the post about God's restraint. One might ask, what is the difference between the "biblical" God with restraint and the biblical God without restraint? Would there be any difference? Certainly, and the difference is...I am still breathing.
God is so incredibly restraining by allowing me punch the keyboard in this moment. He has shown restraint by offering his Son and by redeeming a people for his name's sake. I am so grateful for a God of restraint.
Speaking of restraint, I'm trying to restrain myself from vomiting as I read Cohen's comment about having a wife who writes about theology....hahaha. No I'm only kidding Matt! You are indeed a blessed man. Andrea was out of her mind to marry you! That's what we Christians call "special" grace! haha.
Every person who claims to love Jesus should read this book. It's one of the gems of the faith. if you haven't read it get it. You can find it on amazon for like $0.02.
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