Operation Overlord
June 5, 1944. Hitler had a death grip on Europe. Evil reigned. The Allies needed to do something drastic. Something radical.
They decided an overwhelming invasion was the only way to turn the tide of World War II. For months, they extensively planned and prepped for what they codenamed Operation Overlord. It was the eve of D-Day.
Making Military History
What happened the next morning changed everything. The invasion of Nazi-occupied France along the Normandy coast would be one of the largest military maneuvers in history.
The numbers on June 6th alone are staggering: 156,000 soldiers; 5,000 ships; 11,000 aircraft. The Allies assaulted 50 miles of beaches with odd names like Omaha, Juno, Utah, Gold, and Sword.
What happened the next morning changed everything. The invasion of Nazi-occupied France along the Normandy coast would be one of the largest military maneuvers in history.
The numbers on June 6th alone are staggering: 156,000 soldiers; 5,000 ships; 11,000 aircraft. The Allies assaulted 50 miles of beaches with odd names like Omaha, Juno, Utah, Gold, and Sword.
The Huge Cost
The Normandy invasion radically swung the war in favor of the Allies. Evil was on the run. Freedom advanced rapidly throughout the land. The Nazis surrendered less than a year later.
But it came at a huge cost. More than 4,000 Allied troops died that day. Thousands more were wounded or MIA. In the end, Allied troops did for the citizens of Europe what they couldn’t do for themselves. All because of D-Day. The invasion that changed it all.
But it came at a huge cost. More than 4,000 Allied troops died that day. Thousands more were wounded or MIA. In the end, Allied troops did for the citizens of Europe what they couldn’t do for themselves. All because of D-Day. The invasion that changed it all.
Operation Incarnation
Flip the pages of history back a few thousand years to the day before another world-changing invasion. We’re not really sure of the exact date, but we’ve given the day a name.
Luke describes a few of the details in his biography of Jesus (Lk 2:1-7). It’s codenamed Operation Incarnation. The eve of the D-Day of Grace.
Flip the pages of history back a few thousand years to the day before another world-changing invasion. We’re not really sure of the exact date, but we’ve given the day a name.
Luke describes a few of the details in his biography of Jesus (Lk 2:1-7). It’s codenamed Operation Incarnation. The eve of the D-Day of Grace.
Philip Yancey calls the birth of Christ "a daring raid by the Ruler of the forces of good into the universe's seat of evil."
A Radical Maneuver
A Radical Maneuver
Sin had a death grip on the world. Evil reigned. God needed to do something drastic. Something radical. The Godhead decided an overwhelming invasion was the only way to turn the tide of the war on sin and death.
For eternity, God extensively planned and prepped for Operation Incarnation. It was the eve of Christmas.
An Undercover Invasion
What happened the next day and night changed everything. The undercover invasion of Roman-occupied Israel would be one of the smallest and unassuming maneuvers in history.
The numbers of people involved are barely a blip on the radar screen: One carpenter, his pregnant fiancé, and their unborn baby. With God’s guidance, they traveled from a backwater town in Galilee to a place called Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home.
The numbers of people involved are barely a blip on the radar screen: One carpenter, his pregnant fiancé, and their unborn baby. With God’s guidance, they traveled from a backwater town in Galilee to a place called Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home.
Cards and Carols
The birth of Jesus has become the stuff of cards and carols. A cute little baby. A soft manger of hay. A barn full of fuzzy animals quietly watching the visitors from Nazareth. Angels sweetly singing. Shepherds worshiping in wonder.
The little town of Bethlehem may be still. The night may be silent. But make no mistake. It’s going to get really messy. It’s going to be really bloody. This is an invasion. Christmas is the D-Day of grace.
The birth of Jesus has become the stuff of cards and carols. A cute little baby. A soft manger of hay. A barn full of fuzzy animals quietly watching the visitors from Nazareth. Angels sweetly singing. Shepherds worshiping in wonder.
The little town of Bethlehem may be still. The night may be silent. But make no mistake. It’s going to get really messy. It’s going to be really bloody. This is an invasion. Christmas is the D-Day of grace.
God Gets Personally Involved
Before God’s invasion, our situation was hopeless. We desperately needed outside help. It was going to take more than a massive amphibious assault to come to our rescue.
It was going to take God Himself getting personally involved. Jesus left the comforts of the heavenly palace and took on human form to storm the beaches and gain our freedom (Jn 1:14).
Before God’s invasion, our situation was hopeless. We desperately needed outside help. It was going to take more than a massive amphibious assault to come to our rescue.
It was going to take God Himself getting personally involved. Jesus left the comforts of the heavenly palace and took on human form to storm the beaches and gain our freedom (Jn 1:14).
Saving God's Enemies
But here’s the crazy thing about the D-Day of Grace. We’re not just the ones being rescued but God’s enemies as well! Imagine Eisenhower sending troops into Europe not just to defeat the Nazis but save them too.
And that’s exactly what God did. We’re His enemies (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). Rebels and terrorists against His kingdom. And He didn’t wait until conditions were perfect or we got our act together. Christ came while every one of us were still sinners (Rom 5:8).
And that’s exactly what God did. We’re His enemies (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). Rebels and terrorists against His kingdom. And He didn’t wait until conditions were perfect or we got our act together. Christ came while every one of us were still sinners (Rom 5:8).
God’s invasion radically swung the war in favor of love and grace. Evil is on the run. Freedom is advancing rapidly throughout the land. But it comes at a huge cost. The one and only sinless Son of God died for you and me.
In the end, Jesus did for you and me what we could never do for ourselves. All because of Operation Incarnation. The D-Day of Grace. The invasion that changed it all.
©2015
Jay Jennings
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