SON OF GOD

The Christmas story offers us some magnificent themes – if only we can get out of the seasonal rush and really think about them. There are two in particular: that Jesus is as human as I am (this is the essential lesson of the human baby in the manger), and that Jesus is none the less “My God”, or, as the angel described the baby to Mary, “That Holy One”.

His humanity was (and is) obvious to all – and it means that he knows where I’m coming from and what it feels like to be in this world; he is on the wave length of my fears and worries, my hopes and joys. He understands me, is deeply interested in me and can help me. He forgives and he heals. This is something millions have experienced in their lives, and need to go on experiencing.

His divinity was not so obvious, and when he lived in Galilee most missed it. How was it discerned? This is the challenging bit. John, the supremely thoughtful and discerning disciple, gives us an answer from the years he spent with the adult Jesus. Firstly he listened very carefully to what Jesus said about himself and how he identified himself with God. For example, Jesus simply was not afraid to use even the “I am” title of God for himself. John actually heard Jesus say to the Scribes and Pharisees, “Before Abraham came into being, I am”. He heard much more as Jesus made further use of the expression “I am” and said of himself, I am the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Life, the Truth the Light of the World. All these descriptions blatantly and directly betokened divinity.

Secondly John watched very carefully what Jesus did. He took careful note of Jesus’ own comment that what he was doing in the way of miracles bore evidence to the truth of what he was saying. John saw the man blind from birth healed, the five thousand fed, Lazarus raised from the dead and the water turned into wine. These works that the Father was doing in him through the Spirit were a total vindication of the fact that Jesus spoke and taught the truth. “No man can do these works unless he come from God”, said Nicodemus.

All this perception was indelibly confirmed when he saw Jesus risen from the dead. Like his fellow disciple, Thomas, his own heart at that point breathed, “My Lord and My God!” It was time to worship.
In the later years of his life John's ever deepening perception was majestically underscored by two great prophetic visions of the exalted Jesus, one in which he saw the Lord in the midst of his church, the other in which he saw the glorified “Lamb” in the middle of the throne of God (recorded in The Revelation). They were out shone only by the brilliant revelation of the exalted Lord Jesus that converted Paul on the Damascus road.

Many, worldwide, even today, are finding the same exalted divine Jesus through powerful vision and prophetic revelation. This has not stopped! Many more know providentially of the miracle touch that comes into a life given over to Jesus, and so recognise the absolute validity of his recorded claims. Direct experience of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit particularly endorse the truth of what Jesus said and bring consciousness of his own presence.

May this Son of God enfold you, and may you see something of his glory this Christmas



Bob (N.B. THE NEXT “Column” WILL BE PUBLISHED ON JAN. 4th)

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