Christmas marks the beginning of the journey of Jesus, the Christ to save the world from sin. Why did it have to be Him? Couldn't God have given his prophets another chance to preach repentance and bring God's people back to his ways? For God this is the time of fulfillment, when He Himself comes into the world to save His people. This is possible because of the presence of Jesus. The Word who became flesh to teach, suffer, die on the cross, be resurrected and ascend to Heaven. This is the message that the Gospel of John is meant to bring.
In theology, there are two approaches to explaining Jesus (Christology): Christology from below or from above. If one chooses to start explaining Jesus by recounting His works, cross, sufferings, and teachings, or in other words, His humanity, then one is actually using the approach of Christology from Above. Meanwhile, if one chooses to explain Jesus starting from eternity, His way of being with God and before His presence in the world in human form, then he chooses the Christology from Above approach. Both are complementary dimensions to our understanding of Jesus.
The Gospel of John takes a "Christology from Above" approach, Jesus Christ is described as the true Man, as well as the true God. John 1:1 confirms that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then in verse 14, it is explained about the existence of the Word, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth." The Word became flesh in the form of Jesus. So we can interpret the existence of Jesus as the whole will, thought and love of God. In Jesus we can see God working with God's authority. The Word is the creative power of God. This is the incarnation (literally: the word became flesh) that John wants to tell. If Luke and Matthew tell the story of Jesus' birth in terms of his humanity, then John chooses the theological incarnational perspective in his Gospel.
He is a unique person and has nothing in common with anyone else. His relationship with the Father is so close and of such extraordinary quality that it can be described as "I and the Father are One." The way of salvation was chosen by becoming human. Thus Jesus became a representation of a human being who experienced the trials, tribulations, and struggles of life experienced by humans in general. However, He did not fall into sin. It is in His holiness that the salvation of humanity became possible through His teaching, sacrifice and resurrection.
The Word made flesh understands the fragility of man. Yet He still chooses to be with us in the turbulent and uncertain flow of life. Isn't that a statement of great love that God can convey to us? The moment to remember that love is through Christmas that we celebrate every year. Christmas is not only remembering the birth of the baby Jesus, but the person of Jesus who also taught, worked, sacrificed, and rose to reveal light to the world. It is this hope that we continue to live and become provisions to welcome the future and the days that are often full of uncertainty. The message of Christmas is a message of solidarity from a God who loves and forgives us.
Reflective questions:
Has Jesus been at the center of your Christmas celebrations and reflections?
