Merry Christmas tagged: ,

Merry Christmas

Posted by in Bible & Theology, Church & Missions

On the serious side, I think John 1:14 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible:  “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.”

I make it a habit to read through Athanasius’ On The Incarnation once a year.  He describes the incarnation as a process of God’s self revelation.  Initially, after man went astray, God sought to instruct them via the law.  Being too carnal and focusing on sensible things as an animal, He sent the prophets to further man and exhort him to repent and turn to God.  Man, like a painting that had become too marred and defaced to touch up with some paint, needed to sit again, and have the painting remade.  If the “un-repainted” man was too focused on sensible things like a dumb beast, then how was God to reveal himself?  Athanasius says “He became Himself and object for the senses, so that those who were seeking God in sensible things might apprehend the father through the works which He, the Word of God, did in the Body.” [II:15]   Hebrews 1 describes this progression this way: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, …. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.”

In order to reach the brutish and stupefied human race, the Word became flesh, so that he might reconcile all things to himself.  2 Corinthians 5 notes that God used Jesus to reconcile the world to himself: “18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself.”  That passage, however, does not end with the Cross, or even the resurrection and ascension–It ends with us.  “and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;”   Paul summarizes, explaining the relationship between God reconciling the world through Jesus and then using us for the same task: “19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”  Like our master, who accepted the danger of exchanging our sin for his righteousness (vs 21), we too–if we are indeed to accept our role–must accept the danger of the incarnation.

Recently a friend called me and told me they moved to an new place.  I knew what part of town the new apartment was in.  This is the bad part of town.  Most people try to stay out of there because the schools are bad, it is dangerous, and it is not a good place for a family.  My first response was, “that is an awesome neighborhood!”  My friend agreed.  Trying to live the incarnation (and accepting the occupational hazards associated with it) will change how view the world. Brothers, let us be conformed to the image of Christ and press deeper into our communities, running towards evil and danger rather than away from it.