From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

The great mystery of the incarnation is the crux and the core of the Christian message—Christ came in the flesh and invaded the world. This is the mystery over which the rationalists stumble, by which the humanists are offended, and by which the world is bewildered. It is the coming of Jesus into the world—born in a stable, born of a virgin, reared in the woodshop of a poor Jewish carpenter. We could not grasp the truth that He was the God-man if the Scriptures didn’t reveal it.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). “(He) made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7).

The natural mind is not equipped to understand this truth that transcends human wisdom. Paul reasoned with the Greeks, who majored in knowledge, and with the Romans, who majored in justice, and he declared: “God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).

This is what Christmas should be all about—God’s great gift to the world—His only Son given to mankind so that all might receive His salvation. What a wonderful time of the year to give your life to Christ who gave His all for you. The incarnation is a Scriptural fact. The prophets wrote of it, the psalmists sang of it, the apostles rejoiced and built their hopes on it and the epistles are filled with it. May we all be filled with this kind of joy, always.

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

Have you received Christ’s forgiveness and assurance of Heaven?