Incarnation

knew what it meant to be born into poverty

knew what it meant to survive genocide

knew what it meant to be forced to live as a refugee

knew what it meant to grow up disadvantaged

knew what it meant to experience the stigma of illegitimacy

knew what it meant to go to school and to learn a trade

knew what it meant to turn to God in prayer, faith and hope

knew what it meant to offer up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears

knew what it meant to be hungry and thirsty

knew what it meant to be tempted and tested

knew what it meant to share food and drink with friends

knew what it meant to be feted and praised

knew what it meant to feel compassion

knew what it meant to meet people’s needs

knew what it meant to be criticised for doing good

knew what it meant to shed tears at the death of a friend

knew what it meant to be questioned and rejected

knew what it meant to wrestle with God

knew what it meant to be arrested and imprisoned

knew what it meant to be put on trial

knew what it meant to be beaten and tortured

knew what it meant to be scarred

knew what it meant to be abandoned by a father

knew what it meant to learn obedience from suffering

knew what it meant to die

Emmanuel – God with us

made like his brothers and sisters in every way

tempted in every way, just as we are

able to sympathize with our weaknesses

Emmanuel - became flesh and blood

moved into our neighbourhood.

God was born as a baby 2,000 years in order that he would not be remote from us but would be one of us. Just as he has come to us, so we can now come to him. As Hebrews 4. 14-16 say: “Now that we know what we have — Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God — let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all — all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”

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Rickie Lee Jones - Nobody Knows My Name.