What is the incarnation of Christ, and why is the incarnation important?

TL;DR:

The incarnation is important because without Jesus taking on human flesh, He would not be able to sympathize with our humanity, suffer and die for our sins, and be resurrected from the dead.

In Christianity, the word "incarnation" is used to describe Jesus Christ coming to earth in human form. As John 1:14 declares, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The incarnation was prophesied in Old Testament passages like Isaiah 53. Jesus’ prophetic incarnation is significant because without it, He would not have been able to become the atoning sacrifice for our sins and resurrect from the dead. If this were the case, we would still be guilty of our sins (Hebrews 9:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3,17). Jesus' incarnation was part of the bridge that God made between Himself and sinners because He loves us (Romans 5:8). In this great love, God sent Jesus into a fallen world as the propitiation for our sins so that we could believe in Jesus Christ and, ultimately, receive eternal life (John 3:16).

from the old testament

God’s love was fully displayed in Jesus taking on human form and allowing this form to be destroyed as a sacrifice on our behalf (Isaiah 53).

from the new testament

In Christianity, the word "incarnation" is used to express the idea of Jesus Christ coming to earth as a human. The word is a Latin term that literally means "the act of being made flesh." This idea was used in John 1:14, which speaks of Jesus, who "became flesh and dwelt among us."
The fact of the incarnation is valuable in many ways. In it, we discover a God who loves us so much that He came to earth and took on a human form on our behalf, ultimately giving up His life to pay for our sins and offer us eternal life with Him. As John 3:16 declares, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Our salvation completely depends upon Jesus coming to this world as a human. Romans 5:8 clearly states, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
The resurrection of Jesus was a uniquely human experience. He raised others from the dead during His life, but only Jesus returned to life out of His own power. His resurrection is possible because He took on flesh that first died. This resurrection then compelled His followers to share His message with others. In fact, the apostle Paul called the resurrection a matter of "first importance" (1 Corinthians 15:3) and wrote, "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). He realized that apart from the death and resurrection of Jesus, Christianity's foundation would not exist.
In terms of God’s divine plan, Jesus became human as part of His plan to die in our place as a sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22). In order to resurrect, He first had to physically die, which required taking on a physical body.

implications for today

The incarnation of Christ is important because unlike any other human, Jesus lived in a human body yet did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). In fact, He resisted temptation perfectly (Matthew 4:1–11), revealing both His full deity and full humanity. Theologically, the humanity of Jesus is an important aspect of His earthly life. He was divine (John 1:1; Colossians 1:16), yet He also took on a human body to identify with humanity. He was born of a woman (Matthew 1; Luke 2), ate food (Matthew 4:2; 21:18), slept (Luke 8:23), and experienced temptation (Matthew 4:1–11). Like other humans, He could perspire (Luke 22:43–44) and bleed (John 19:34). He also displayed human emotions, including anger (Mark 3:5), joy (John 15:11), and sorrow (Matthew 26:37). The incarnation is valuable for us in many ways. In it, we discover a God who loves us so much that He came to earth and took on flesh on our behalf, ultimately to give up His life to pay for our sins and offer us eternal life with Him.

understand

Jesus became human to identify with us fully.
Jesus had to take on flesh to die and rise for our salvation.
Jesus’ incarnation proves God's deep love for us.

reflect

How does knowing that Jesus experienced human emotions and physical pain change the way you relate to Him in your own struggles?
How are you moved by the truth that Jesus took on flesh to die in your place?
How might the incarnation of Christ reshape how you see your worth and identity before God?

engage

What does the incarnation reveal about God’s nature and His desire for relationship with humanity?
How would the message of the gospel be different if Jesus had not come in human form?
In what ways does the truth of the incarnation influence how we live out our faith in a world that often denies or misunderstands it?