Advent 2018 – 06

Was Jesus God? This question has been the subject of thousands of volumes of theology and has occupied the thinking of brilliant people for millennia of time.

For some, Jesus was a man who was made “into” God by the early followers of Christianity. Their beliefs have become the stuff of recent novels and movie themes. They could not be more incorrect.

Still others shy away from this affirmation, believing themselves to be too pious to make such an assertion. Cults have begun from their teaching. How could infinite Deity come in a human body?

And yet such is exactly what Scripture affirms, and what true theology requires. Jesus, God in flesh, “became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory…”

To say less than this is one of the worst heresies. Several modern religious systems affirm He could not have been God. To affirm more than this is impossible.

The pinnacle of Christological statements is found in Hebrews 1. It is called by some “nosebleed Christology” because of the heights it reaches. Jesus was indeed fully God, while at the same time fully human. Fully human, fully holy.

An orthodox belief requires we begin there. And yes, it leaves questions unanswered. It is a statement of faith that is affirmed over and over in the New Testament, as well as being hinted at in prophecies almost a thousand years before Christ’s advent.

Christmas is a time that we restate this marvelous truth over and over… that “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us… and the Word was with God and THE WORD WAS GOD.” (John 1:14 and 1-3)

We sing it, but cannot understand or explain it. We believe it, but wonder in awe at what we sing. We embrace it, or risk a watered down shadow of the truth.

Jesus. Is. God. No other statement makes Christmas true… or worth the celebration.

“What child is this, Who laid to rest in Mary’s lap is sleeping?”


Prayer: Father in Heaven, it is YOUR coming that we rejoice in at Christmas. Your coming… in flesh, as child, in sinless though complete humanity. Jesus You are Immanuel… and we are so very grateful that You have come. In Your great name we pray, Amen.”

“Born as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.” (From “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”)

 

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