As a parent sometimes you are called on to help with homework. Some teachers don’t believe in homework anymore, but some still do. There are nights when the homework tasks are abundant and difficult. Most of the time it is the subject of math that needs the most help.
It is the easy way out to tell your children to go ‘read the book’ or to just ‘figure it out.’ And although that kind of help is still help, it isn’t always the most gracious or kind. When your children need help, they want you to sit with them and help them work through the problems to come to a solution. You have to enter in to the problems they have and walk them through it. That takes a different level of involvement and commitment.
At Christmas time we think about the reality that Jesus entered into our world. There is a fancy theological term for that. It is called the Incarnation. The term comes from the Latin which literally means ‘into flesh.’ Jesus’ incarnation is Him taking on flesh. But He didn’t just add flesh to His being, He actually fully incarnated Himself into our world. He walked the earth, He dealt with difficult people, He encountered hardships and struggles, He felt pain, He experienced loss, and all the other things we go through as well.
It would have been one thing for Jesus to just sit from heaven and tell us to ‘figure it out’ or ‘find the solution’ on our own. But He chose to become a man. He chose to enter into the problems and struggles that His people face. The book of Hebrews tells us that it had to be this way for Him to be able to minister fully to us. Hebrews 2:17 says, “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” This verse is discussing the salvation aspect of His incarnation. Only Jesus being fully human could totally satisfy the wrath of God and cause His sacrifice to be accepted by God. But it also says that through His incarnation He shows His mercy and faithfulness to His people.
The next verse is also very important. Hebrews 2:18 says, “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” This is a much more practical verse for us to relate to. This verse tells us that Jesus can now appropriately minister to us during the times of hardship of this life because He dealt with the same struggles we deal with! He comes to the aid of His people because He knows all that they are going through…He knows firsthand.
Chapter 4 of Hebrews also adds that Christ sympathizes with our weaknesses (v 15). How can He sympathize with us? Well, through His incarnation into this world. It also says that He went through every trial of life and He did it without sin (v 15). What a perfect example we have in Christ. But not just an example but a merciful and sympathetic one as well.
Now for us today, to really minister to one another we must consider the Incarnation of Christ. He entered into our world, fully immersing Himself into all the situations we go through to help us, and we should do the same to others. Don’t just say you will be there for them, incarnate yourself into the struggles that they are facing. Maybe that means you go with them to a doctor’s appointment, or maybe you grieve with them as they are enduring the loss of a loved one. Maybe it is being a listening ear in a very difficult decision they are going to make.
The difference between telling someone where to find the answer and working through the problem with them is incarnation. Walking in their footsteps is the way we imitate the Lord in His mercy and assistance.