And the world became flesh.....

Incarnation is an example of a word that we use with a solid understanding of what 'incarnation' truly means....what it implies....what consequences come with it. 

Incarnation means 'in the flesh.'  It starts with 'carnal' - like 'carnal knowledge' or knowledge of the flesh (or in current language "hooking up").  Add the 'in' in the beginning and you come up with something that in fact, comes into the flesh.

So 'evil incarnate' is a person who is, in their flesh, evil.  In every aspect.  All the time.  I expect we (the English speaking world) use the word a little loosely.

The Church does not.  In fact, at the heart of Christian belief is the dogma that Jesus was God incarnate.  God in the flesh.  God looking just like us.  God walking among us, sweating with us in the heat and shivering in the cold, hungry when without bread, lonely, frightened, worried, .....and I would add.....probably irritated, annoyed, hurt, frustrated.  In other words, human.

For people of other faiths, the claim that Jesus was God incarnate is a huge stumbling block.  Really? they ask.  The man who was crucified?  The man who died?  

For Christian believers, this incarnation likewise confuses.  How was Jesus God?  they ask.  How much of Jesus was human?  they ask.  Which part of Jesus died on the cross, the human part or the God part?  they ask. 

Some believers want Jesus to be especially divine.  For these folks, The Last Temptation of Christ is close to blasphemy since their Christ would not be tempted.  Some believers want to emphasize Jesus' human side - and therefore stumble over the miracles and signs of power Jesus performs.

The Church (notice the captial "C") came to an understanding in 332AD (or there abouts) at the Council of Chalcedon when it was decided that Jesus was 100% human and 100% divine - at exactly the same time.  That the human and divine
'parts' of Jesus could not be separated nor divided, like a burning piece of coal one could not separate the fire from the coal yet both are present.

That's the doctrine.  It is good to know it.  But it is also good to know the power of a savior who has (a) walked among us and likewise (b) promised to be with us always.  To have both, we need to wrap our heads around this Christ: God incarnate, and it is a challenge to us today as well.  When I am walking with a family who is grieving I can say to them, "Jesus grieved (see John 11) and knows the loss you are experiencing, and he promises to walk with you in this loss as well." 

A good grasp of 'incarnation' helps us connect with the divine each day of our life for the power of God walked with and among us once, and walks with and among us still.  "....the Word became flesh and dwelt among us"  John 1.14  A good way to start the new year.