Why bring this up now? AI is the current crown of our cultural achievement. It represents all the work in digital and social media. It is being marketed as a ‘friend’ to seniors and even a love companion to singles. The challenge we are seeing in the classroom is AI is marketed as a ‘think-for-you’ device. It can write papers, compose music, generate plans and designs all on its own. So, students and other workers all the way up the chain are tempted to use it instead of engaging themselves. But again, why now?
The Incarnation slaps AI in the face. It is the opposite of a computer-generated answer to a real-life problem. The Colson Center wonders about the fact that God sent Jesus into our broken world instead of Zooming or chatting with us on social media and the volumes that speaks. I think they are spot on. Jesus’ entrance into our world communicates loudly. It should tell us something about our sin that Jesus chose to come into our darkness and not work remotely. All the miracles we cherish: the feeding of the 5000, the healing of Jairus’ daughter, the resurrection of Lazarus, to name a few, would not have happened if Jesus hadn’t been present on the scene. The beauty of God with Us is seen when Jesus hurts and shouts and cries and bleeds. He isn’t a cartoon character or a digital friend. He is real and every time we press into His story, we experience His reality.
Communication, however, is not the main purpose of the Incarnation. As much as we’d like to think that Jesus came just to send us a message, His purpose was far deeper. Humans need much more than an up-lifting message. At the core of our beings, we are broken; the hope we carry is shattered in a thousand pieces. We are lonely, depressed, confused and generally rotten. The Bible calls this darkness of the soul sin. It is a disease that separates us from God that no amount of human or digital ingenuity can bridge. The main purpose of the Incarnation is redemption. And not just the buying back of a piece of property or paying delinquent taxes on an old vehicle either. Jesus came for the redemption of our dark souls. And why does this matter? Why should we spend more than a few moments on December 25th reflecting on this gift; this purpose that many say changed the course of history?
We celebrate Jesus’ birth because through it He opens the door for our rebirth. Jesus introduces grace en masse to the world. When He is born, all of Heaven shows up for a look. Jesus’ birth is the one time in history we see everything literally stand still. Time stops and for a few minutes everything in creation bends to worship Emmanuel. In His birth we have a stark reminder that life is not all about us. Jesus’ birth acts as a black out moment for all the screens and digital think tanks in all of time. Every man-made thing studders to respond while every God-made thing shouts “Hallelujah!”
We celebrate the Incarnation because it means for the first time we can see God. Not God like Moses saw on the mountain and had to cover his face for weeks afterward so as not to blind people with God’s residual glory that rubbed off on him, but God in the flesh; God like us. Not one of us who somehow rose to the status or place of God. Jesus is not the same as any celebrated King, Emperor or religious ruler in history. He isn’t a guy who thought of some important things and went on to write them down. He isn’t a guy who was somehow ‘enlightened’ and helped others to come to his state of thinking or being. Jesus IS God. He was present in creation when God said “Let there be Light.” He shut door of the ark when the depths broke open and Noah’s boat finally floated. He was in the burning bush when God first called Moses’ name. He inspired every single Psalm and prophecy. He took a stroll in the fiery furnace and shut the mouths of lions in Daniel’s den. This celebrated baby is no octogenarian. He has been and will be for ever and always. His choice to take on our flesh for 33 some odd years was motivated by love and a deep, eternally seated desire to buy us back from the Hell and devil we are destined for.
The celebration of Jesus’ birth makes us more human. It gives us a chance to really touch reality. And in a world that lifts the semi-real to higher and higher positions, the Incarnation is indispensable. I pray the reality of Jesus’ entry into this world is brighter and more real to you these last few days of December and 2024. And I pray you celebrate His reality. His coming is not just a convenient add-on to our already hectic reality. Jesus makes real life possible for everyone who places their faith in Him. Will you join those ranks this year? If you have already tasted grace, will you choose to trust Him more? I pray so. Oh, how I pray so.
Merry Christmas and much love!