In our Word of the Week, Pastor Mark Tiefel defines the word Incarnation. The teaching of the incarnation comes to the forefront in the birth of Jesus.  Literally, the word incarnate means to become flesh.  Jesus had to become human because God promised that it would happen this way (Isaiah 7:14).  Jesus would be Immanuel, God with us.  He also had to be human to suffer and die for us as our perfect substitute as Paul says in Galatians 4:4-5.  Jesus had to be born under the law to redeem sinners.  Jesus is true God, but also became true Man for our salvation (John 1:1,14).  If Jesus did not have a human body he could not endure the punishment for our sins.  Jesus had to become incanate, because it is how our Savior offered Himself for our sins.  This is what Christmas is all about.