The Eternal Savior

"While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth." - Luke 2:6

Some two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, an ordinary girl named Mary, thrust into extraordinary events, gave birth to a child. The question is asked of her in a song, if she knew the identity of this child. Scripture shows us that she had some idea, but the details were far from her. You see throughout the account that she knew something amazing was going on, and she pondered these events as they happened.

But this child she brought into the world, had in fact brought her into the world. Through Him all things came into being and He holds it all together (cf. John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:3).

At the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. the identity of this Jesus was brought into question. Arius and his followers maintained that Jesus was in fact not eternal, but Himself created. Legend tells us that St. Nicholas slapped Arius in the face over this notion. Over the years many have doubted various aspects of who Jesus is. Is He God? Is He human? The ramifications are of utmost importance.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1

When we think of the Christmas story, our minds often go towards imagery of baby Jesus and His parents in a manger, surrounded by farm animals, shepherds, and wise men, perhaps even some angels.

The Gospel of John is not typically where we look for the Christmas story, and yet it is no less a part of it than Matthew or Luke.

The Christmas story didn't begin in Bethlehem, it didn't even start in the garden with the promise given in Genesis 3:15. It begins in eternity past, in the mind of God. And the Word, the second Person of the Trinity was in fellowship with the Father and the Spirit in eternity past.

But on this night, after being silent for over four hundred years, God burst onto the scene.

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

The Son, the second Person of the Trinity, took on flesh and humbled Himself (Philippians 2:5-11), becoming a man; not losing His divinity, but taking on humanity.

This wasn't some normal human that God chose to indwell. This wasn't a being who lost his divinity before dying on the cross. This was the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

He came to do the will of His Father, to seek and to save that which is lost (cf. John 6:38-40, Luke 19:10). He fulfilled prophecy, He lived a sinless life, He finished the work He came to do (cf. John 19:30).

He is Mediator, Savior, Lord, King, and God.

So this child born in a manger, born of an ordinary girl, on a seemingly ordinary night in Bethlehem, is the eternal Son of God. The world was about to be turned upside down.

May we remember who He is on this Christmas.

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this." - Isaiah 9:6-7