The Annunication

I was amazingly struck yesterday at the importance of reflecting regularly throughout the year on the humanity of Christ.

The Annunication sounds so Catholic it may seem peculiar to try and claim back the passage from Luke 1 for protestant ears, but there are clear messages for us in 2010.

Jesus is THE superlative.
Just listen to the things Gabriel says about Jesus:
- He will be GREAT
- He is THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH, THE SON OF GOD
- He will sit on THE THRONE OF DAVID
- The throne will be GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD
- He will REIGN FOREVER
- His kingdom will HAVE NO END
- He will be HOLY

This message is so important in Lent. Just as we turn our faces to Jerusalem and consider afresh the betrayal, the denial, the Last Supper, the sham trial, the cross, His death, and His resurrection, it is crucial we remember who Jesus is.

However, Jesus is a man.
I am struck by the physicality of Gabriel's message. Mary knows she is a virgin, and she's bright enough to know that sex is a prerequisite for babies. But Gabriel is clear - she will conceive, she will have a baby.

What more dependant image is there than a baby. It's easy sometimes to think of Jesus the GREAT, the WISE, the POWERFUL...but here we are reminded that he is just a MAN.

To this end Jesus is a more perfect mediator - he shares my nature, which makes his sacrifice all the more profound!