Emmanuel

Our nation watched in disbelief as the details of the horrific tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut unfolded 10 days ago.  Our hearts and prayers go out for the 26 families for whom this will be a very difficult Christmas season, whose lives have been forever changed in the wake of this unspeakable crime.  We have listened as pundits have tried in vain to answer the inevitable human question ... Why?  Most of the "solutions" offered are ineffective at best, counterproductive at worst.  This event reminds me that we live in a broken world, a world forever scarred by sin.

It is into just this world that God sent his Son to become human flesh ... the incarnation.  Of course, this was necessary in order that Jesus could be our representative, the vicarious sacrifice for our sins.  In order to die for man, He had to BE man.  In the same way that the first Adam's sin placed all of mankind under the curse of sin, the death of the second Adam (Jesus) removes that curse.   (Romans 5:12-20)  Thank God that "the Word became flesh" ... Emmanuel!

But there is a second reality of the incarnation that gives comfort in times like this.  The Savior is not some remote, distant, uncaring deity.  In his humanity, Jesus has first-hand experience with the human condition.  As he walked this earth as a man, he experienced real human pain, real human emotion.  Hebrews 2:11 tells us that this experience allows him to call us "brothers" and goes on to say that since he was made "like his brothers in every way", he can be a faithful and merciful high priest.  The writers reiterates this in 4:15 when he tells us "we do not have an high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness", a fact that allows us to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence.

In the face of unspeakable tragedy, Jesus does not offer empty platitudes ... he offers Himself!  He is able on one hand to come alongside as a brother and say, "I understand your hurt, I understand your loss, I understand your emotion." And as the Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, he is able to offer Himself as the solution for the brokenness in the world.  My prayer is that the families in Newtown (and all families in this broken world) will experience the comfort of Emmanuel this Christmas season. 

O come, O Come, Emmanuel!