JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

The first line of the hymn states:
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HE APPEARED IN A BODY
"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body."
Or as the King James Version has it,
"He was manifested in the flesh."
Paul introduces the hymn by stating that its message is "mysterious." This should not
surprise us. The footprints of the divine will always leave us with mystery. The "enfleshment of
God Almighty" is incredible, incomparable, and staggering to the human mind. How could it be
otherwise?
A PARADOX
The Christmas story is filled with paradox—a seeming contradiction. Think with me.
● The God of the universe who spoke this world into existence by the breath of
His mouth became a tiny infant whose first breath was a cry.
● God the Son who had glory with God the Father before the world existed (Jn 17:5)
came down from the heights of that glory to the gory depths of earth's humiliation.
● Christ, who was larger than the universe, became an embryo.
● Christ, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, was born in a stable.
● Christ, the infinite God, became confined to human skin.
● "Christ, the Ancient of Days, became the infant of days."7
● Christ, who created the angels of heaven was made lower than them.
(Col 1:16; Heb 2:7)
● Christ, who said, "Before Abraham was, I am" was born at least 2000 years after
Abraham.
● "Christ, who belongs to all centuries, was born in the first century."8
● "Christ, who belongs to all races, was born a Jew."9
● Christ, who belongs to all countries, was born in Bethlehem.