He was in the beginning with God.

~ John 1:2

Dear People of God,

Who is God? And, who does this God say he is? And, how is it that we come to know this God? That is what the question of Christmas answers. God is the one who was in the beginning. He is the one who created all things in heaven and on earth. There is and will never be another God like him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all that is.

Consider this also from John chapter One—”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). When it says “He was in the beginning” it means there was never a time in which He did not exist. Before all that was, he was. And he was also with God. How interesting. As Christians, we are monotheists, something we share with our Jewish and Muslim siblings. This means we are believers in one and only one God. Yet Jesus was with God and has always been with God. And, Jesus, the Word, is God. What we confess to be true as Christians is that Jesus is God. The Father is God. The Holy Spirit is God. And yet, there are not three gods, but one God. They are at the same time co-eternal and co-equal. They share one, divine essence.

Why does this matter? Is this just highfalutin nonsense? Theology, those things that we believe about God, can become meaningless if it is meant for the ivory tower. But good theology, true theology, is made for proclamation. That is, to leave the mouth of a preacher and enter the ears of a listener. The message must become down-to- earth, because Jesus came down from heaven to earth. That is Christmas. The Word came down from heaven to earth, took on a human body—so that he has the same blood that runs through his veins that runs through our veins. Yet, if Jesus were only a human being, and not also God no amount of being born, suffering or dying on the cross would be able to save us. If Jesus were only God, and not also a human being, he would not mediate between God and humans, we would be lost. For our salvation Jesus must be fully God and a human being in order to forgive sins, to mediate, to be with us.

On Christmas we celebrate that Jesus who was in the beginning with God is also with us. Which means because of Christmas, of being born of the Virgin Mary, we are with God. Whether you are among family this Christmas, or you are on your own, be comforted to know that because of Jesus you are with God. He draws you to himself, forgives your sins, and makes you holy. On earth, among the ordinary people, the Lord dwells and lives.

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Levi Powers