Pastor’s Corner

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 

Jesus came in human flesh. He did not come in the flesh of a duck. He did not come in the flesh of a dog. Jesus was not incarnate as a caterpillar or a goldfish. Jesus came in your flesh. The flesh of a man, of a woman, of a child. He came in the flesh of a person made in the image of God – you. 

We may wonder, “Why did He come in this way and not some other, more powerful, way?” The answer is easy, He came in human flesh to be given for you. He came in human flesh to keep God’s law perfectly in your place. He came in human flesh to rise from the dead in your place. 

During Advent and Christmas, we should always remember why Jesus Christ became man. We must remember why He came in your flesh, and not in some other way. He came in your flesh all for your sake. It is like Isaiah said, “For to us a son is born, to us a son is given.” Jesus came in the flesh to speak, and so that you could hear. He came in the flesh to suffer for you on the cross in your place. He came in the flesh to have his blood spilled for you. Jesus came in the flesh to die in the flesh. And Jesus came in the flesh to rise from the dead in the flesh, so you also might rise from the dead. 

As we prepare for Advent & Christmas, let us remember the coming of Christ and how He provides for our salvation every single day. Jesus came as a man, to suffer in our place, and He is still coming to you. Jesus comes to you cradled in a chalice and a host in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus is still coming to you in the water of baptism pouring His forgiveness over you. Jesus is still coming as the Word (John 1) when we hear Christ proclaimed in preaching, heard in the readings, and sung with all the angelic voices of heaven in our hymns and liturgy. Jesus is still coming in the flesh. 

– Pastor Grimenstein