Why Did Jesus Become Human?

Teen Devo on the Incarnation • Joshua 5:13-15 • Hebrews 1:1–2 • John 1:1–3, 14
Starting ~7:45pm • 30–40 minutes • Whole Group + Two Groups Split

🎮 Icebreaker: "What Would You Do If God Visited You Today?"

Loosen everyone up and create instant connection—get them thinking about Jesus in their world.

Timing: ~8 minutes total.
Setup: Teens can pick cards either physically or digitally using the flip cards below. Have them discuss in groups of 3–4, then quick share-out to the whole group.

💡 How to Use the Flip Cards: Click any card below to flip it and reveal the scenario. Teens can do this on their own phones if you share the Discussion Guide link, or you can project this page and click to reveal scenarios for the group!

Sample Scenarios on the Cards:
  • Jesus sits next to you at lunch—what does He ask you first?
  • Jesus enters your room—what item do you think He'd comment on?
  • Jesus joins your group chat—what message does He send?
  • Jesus shows up at your practice/rehearsal—what does He notice?
  • Jesus scrolls through your phone for 30 seconds—what does He see?
  • Jesus watches you interact with your family for a day—what does He say?
  • Jesus sits in on your classes—which one does He find most interesting?
  • Jesus sees how you spend your weekend—what surprises Him?
  • Jesus watches what you post on social media—what does He think?
  • Jesus overhears how you talk about people who aren't there—what does He hear?
1
Pick Me!
Jesus sits next to you at lunch—what does He ask you first?
2
Pick Me!
Jesus enters your room—what item do you think He'd comment on?
3
Pick Me!
Jesus joins your group chat—what message does He send?
4
Pick Me!
Jesus shows up at your practice/rehearsal—what does He notice?
5
Pick Me!
Jesus scrolls through your phone for 30 seconds—what does He see?
6
Pick Me!
Jesus watches you interact with your family for a day—what does He say?
7
Pick Me!
Jesus sits in on your classes—which one does He find most interesting?
8
Pick Me!
Jesus sees how you spend your weekend—what surprises Him?
9
Pick Me!
Jesus watches what you post on social media—what does He think?
10
Pick Me!
Jesus overhears how you talk about people who aren't there—what does He hear?
Q Discussion Questions

After picking your card and reading the scenario, discuss in small groups:

  • Would you feel excited, nervous, or awkward? Why?
  • What would change if Jesus was actually there?
  • What do you think He'd say or do?
Facilitation Tips:
  • Keep it light and fun—no "right" answers.
  • After small groups discuss (3 min), ask 3-4 groups to share their best answer.
  • Listen for honest responses—teens revealing where they feel Jesus is distant or close.
Bridge line: "Tonight we're talking about something that actually happened: God Himself stepped into human life as a real person—Jesus. Not just visiting for a day, but becoming fully human to live among us, understand us, and show us who God is."

🔥 Movement 1: God Keeps Showing Up

Even in the Old Testament, God finds ways to show up in forms people can see and understand.

Have someone read: Joshua 5:13–15
"When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?' 'Neither,' he replied, 'but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, 'What message does my Lord have for his servant?' The commander of the LORD's army replied, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.' And Joshua did so."
Timing: ~4 minutes.
Teaching Points:
  • Joshua asks: "Whose side are you on?" The response: "Neither—I am the Commander of the LORD's army."
  • Joshua falls in worship and isn't corrected—signaling this is no ordinary angel.
  • Many scholars see this as a pre-incarnate appearance of the Messiah—God showing up in a form people could understand.

But Notice What Happens with Angels and Humans...

Throughout Scripture, when people try to worship angels or other humans, they're stopped immediately:

Acts 10:25-26 – When Cornelius tries to worship Peter, Peter says: "Stand up; I am only a man myself."
Acts 14:11-15 – When people try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, they tear their clothes and shout: "We too are only human, like you!"
Revelation 19:10 & 22:8-9 – When John tries to worship an angel, the angel says: "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant... Worship God!"
Key Contrast to Emphasize:
  • Angels refuse worship. Apostles refuse worship.
  • But in Joshua 5, this figure accepts worship and declares the ground holy.
  • This shows God has always wanted to be near His people—the Incarnation is the fullest expression of that desire.
Key Point: God didn't start being "with us" in Bethlehem. He's always been finding ways to draw close—but the Incarnation is when He goes all the way and becomes one of us.

🌌 Movement 2: God's Plan for Humans Kept Breaking Down

Before the manger, there's a whole story of God working through people who keep failing.

Genesis 1:26–28 (the original plan)
Humans are made in God's image to reflect Him and bless the world.
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1. Designed to Reflect
Adam & Eve, Abraham, Moses, David—all chosen to show the world what God is like.
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2. Pattern of Failure
Again and again, leaders turn inward, use power for themselves, fail to bless others.
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3. God Steps In
The eternal Son doesn't just send a message—He becomes human to be the faithful partner we never were.
Teaching note (~3 min): Briefly trace the "failed partners" theme. God wanted to work through humanity to bless the world, but every human partner failed. So in Jesus, God doesn't just work THROUGH someone—He BECOMES someone. This sets up why the Incarnation matters: God wanted relationship with us so much that He didn't give up on the partnership—He entered it Himself.

💬 Movement 3: God Spoke in Many Ways... But Now

Before Jesus, God communicated through various means. But then something changed everything.

Have 1-2 teens read aloud:
Hebrews 1:1-2
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."
Timing: ~5 minutes teaching + 2 minutes questions.
Key Teaching Points:
  • Before Jesus, God spoke through burning bushes, dreams, visions, prophets, wrestling matches, angels
  • All of these were good—but they were partial, temporary, indirect
  • "But in these last days" = the final, complete revelation
  • God didn't just send another message—He sent His Son, the Word Himself
  • This is about relationship: God wanted to be WITH us, not just communicate TO us

Examples of How God Spoke Before:

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Burning Bush
God spoke to Moses from fire (Exodus 3)
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Wrestling
God wrestled with Jacob (Genesis 32)
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Dreams
God gave visions to Abraham (Genesis 15)
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Visions
Prophets saw God's throne room (Isaiah 6)
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Prophets
God spoke through many messengers
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Angels
Heavenly messengers delivered words
The Big Shift: All these ways were good—but they were partial, temporary, and indirect. But NOW God has spoken through His Son. Not just words through a prophet. Not just a vision in a dream. The Word Himself became flesh.
1 God's Communication Methods

Why do you think God used so many different ways to communicate before Jesus came?

  • What's the difference between getting a message FROM God versus God Himself showing up AS a human?
  • If Jesus is God's final and clearest message, what does that tell us about how important it is to know Him?
Aim for 2-3 quick responses
Bridge to John 1: "So God spoke in many ways throughout history. But Hebrews says He's now spoken through His Son—the ultimate, complete revelation. Let's look at how John describes this..."

📖 Movement 4: The Word Became Flesh—John 1

Jesus isn't just a good teacher who showed up. He's in the story from the very beginning.

Have 4-5 teens read these verses aloud (one line each):
John 1:1–3, 14
A In the beginning was the Word,
B and the Word was with God,
C and the Word was God.
B′ He was with God in the beginning.
CENTER: Through him all things were made (v. 3)
A′ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (v. 14)
Timing: ~5 minutes teaching + 3 minutes questions.
Key Points teens need to get:
  • You can't know someone deeply from a distance.
  • God didn't send a message—He came in person.
  • Jesus is God translated into a human life.
  • The incarnation shows: "This is who God is. This is who you can become."
  • He came not just to save but to commission us (Great Commission connection)

Hook line to emphasize: "God came as one of us so we could know Him, follow Him, and join His mission to bless the world."
2 Jesus the Creator

What changes if we think of Jesus not starting in Bethlehem, but being with God in the beginning, involved in creation?

  • How might that change how seriously we take His words?
  • How does it feel knowing the One who made you also walked our streets?
  • If Jesus "moved into the neighborhood" in your world, what would He notice?
Aim for 2-3 quick responses, keep it moving

👥 Breakout: Processing in Two Groups

Let them process how Jesus becoming human impacts their lives and mission.

Timing: ~12-15 minutes total (discussion + prayer).
Logistics:
  • Explain that we're breaking into two groups (pick locations).
  • Each group has an adult facilitator.
  • Encourage honest, respectful conversation in a safe space.
  • End each group with a short prayer circle.
Group A Sample Questions:
  • Why do you think God wanted to be "with us" instead of just sending rules or prophets?
  • Where in your life do you wish God would "show up" right now?
  • What does it mean that Jesus understands our emotions, fears, and temptations?
  • How does knowing Jesus was fully human change how you relate to God?
  • Jesus didn't just come to save us—He came to send us out to bless others (Matthew 28:18-20). What's one way you could be part of that mission this week?
Group B Sample Questions:
  • What does the Joshua story show about God's presence and authority?
  • If Jesus is fully human—what does that say about the kind of strength or courage He values?
  • What part of your life would change if you believed God truly knows what it's like to be you?
  • What keeps young people today from seeing Jesus as someone they can follow?
  • Jesus told His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Why do you think He wants us to share what we've experienced with others?
Facilitator Tips:
  • Use open questions, not yes/no questions.
  • Let teens process—they learn best by talking.
  • Don't rush to fill silence—give them space to think.
  • Share briefly from your own experience if helpful.
  • Connect the Incarnation to the Great Commission: Jesus became human so we could know God AND be sent out to share His love
Wrap-up: Bring both groups back together. Ask if anyone wants to share one thing they discussed (keep it brief). Close in prayer thanking Jesus for becoming human to show us who God is, who we can be, and commissioning us to share His love with the world.

💭 Group Reflection: "What Would God Be Like?"

Bring everyone back together for an interactive reflection.

Timing: ~5 minutes.
Activity: In groups of 3-4, have teens list 3-4 things to answer: "What would God be like if He DIDN'T become human?"
? Reflection Question

What would God be like if He didn't become human?

  • Common teen answers: God would feel distant, we wouldn't know how to live, we'd just have rules not a model, we wouldn't believe He understands us, we wouldn't have a clear example to follow
Bring it home: Because God became human, you can trust Him, relate to Him, and follow Him. You're not guessing who God is—He showed you. Jesus is God in a form you can understand. And He didn't just come to be with us—He came to send us out as His witnesses to bless all nations.

🙏 Response Time & Closing Prayer

Give teens something tangible to take with them.

Timing: ~5 minutes.
Setup: Have small cards or paper ready for silent reflection.
✍️ Silent Reflection Prompt

"If Jesus stood beside you tonight, what would He say about the way you're living?"

  • Let them write on cards (anonymous if they want).
  • Give 2 minutes of quiet for reflection and writing.
  • Collect cards or let them keep them as a reminder.
Closing Prayer (pray over them):
  • Thank God for coming near—for not staying distant.
  • Thank Him for speaking in many ways, but ultimately speaking through His Son.
  • Ask Jesus to show each teen where He wants to "incarnate" His love in their life this week.
  • Pray for courage to follow Him and to be His witnesses—to share His love with their friends, family, and world.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help them remember: "God came as one of us so we could know Him and join His mission to bless others."

🔥 Key Message for Teens

The incarnation means God didn't stay distant.
He became human so you could know Him, trust Him, and walk with Him.
Jesus is God in a form you can understand.

God came as one of us so we could know Him, follow Him, and join His mission to bless the world.

💫 Final Thought

Remember: Jesus didn't just come to fix a problem. He came to be WITH us and to SEND us out. The Word became flesh—God in a body you can understand, living a life you can follow. When you feel lost, remember: God spoke His clearest message through His Son. And that Son invites you not just to know Him, but to join His mission of blessing the world.