Who is Jesus Anyway? : A Personal God

Second Sunday of Advent - A little late
Jesus is...the reason for the season. A concept taught to me by my mother ever since I was a little girl. But now more then ever it has true meaning.

I guess I wanted to do this little series to remind myself what Christmas is really all about.Christmas has become about everything but Christ. It's amazing to me that the secular culture can take an event completely centered on Christ, and turn it in to a mockery. I mean trying to change the name? Happy Holidays. It is and always will be CHRISTmas.

Christmas is about the bridge that fills the gap between sinful man and a Holy God.


Who is Jesus Anyway: A personal God

I am currently studying the doctrine of the Incarnation via Tim Keller. Which basically is about Christmas. In basic words, God becoming flesh. Jesus coming to earth as a baby and living as a man, and then dying for sin on the cross. Amazing. So much more than a little story told on Christmas Eve. It is a story that changes everything. Tim had some great points about what the Incarnation really means and how it should effect us.

When John in John 1:1-3 says that "The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory" He is referring to the great miracle of the incarnation.
In some views of religion such as "It doesn't matter so much what you believe all religions basically believe in the same God . What really matters is that you are a good loving and honest person." God is perceived as an impersonal being. Not as a person we can know and relate to. But the incarnation tells us we have a "palpable God" one who can be known, talked to, listened to, served and loved. The incarnation gives us the most personal God in the face of modern efforts to de- personalize the deity.

"John tells the Jews the truth and self expression of God has become human, and he tells the Greeks, that the meaning of life and all existence has become human. Therefore only if you know this human being will you find what you hoped to find in Philosophy, or even in the God of the Bible. The difference between any other great figure and Jesus is the difference between an example of living and one who is the life itself." - Charles Williams

The incarnation is so much more than the Christmas story, it is the Gospel story! They story of a personal God who became flesh so that we may know Him and be loved by Him.
I know in the busy hustle of Christmas I need to stop and ponder what the Incarnation really means.

I know that Christmas songs can just become memorized in our heads, and we don't stop to ponder the words, but I have found myself really listening and worshiping to Christmas Music this season. It is amazing how much the Gospel is in the songs!

Songs like "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Stay tuned for Part two- Who is Jesus Anyway: The only Mediator
and part three- Who is Jesus Anyway: A Suffering Saviour