Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 ESV)
Representative
In middle school, somehow I got the reputation of a good romantic ‘go between.’ When Mike and Melania (fill in your memory’s names) were having a squabble, I would talk to Mike on behalf of Melania, and Melania on behalf of Mike.
Often, Mike was so mad at Melania that such a representative was the only way for them to communicate. Often Melania was so mad at Mike that such a representative was the only way for them to communicate.
The estrangement between God and humans was far deeper than a middle school fight. From Adam down to us, our absolute sin separates us absolutely from the absolutely perfect God.
The only way to connect with God is through a perfect representative. One who understands both sides. One who has lived as both sides. One who actually IS both sides.
And that One is Christ Jesus.
If it were not for the Incarnation, in which our representative actually became BOTH sides, we could not approach God, we could not have peace with God, we could not be adopted into His family.
Christ, Incarnated, overcomes God’s wrath and our stubbornness. Christ, Incarnated, provides the way to God’s Justice and our guilt. Christ, Incarnated, allows God’s love to transform our hearts into God-lovers.
We would be lost forever without the Incarnation.