IMMANUEL (John 1:1-14)

Now we come to Christmas...

In the prologue to his Gospel, John speaks of the “Word” and the “true light”, as essentially the same thing. He declares, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:9) But then, speaking of Jesus, he says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” It is significant that, in Christian understanding, Jesus is not an enlightened one, but the “true light” that enlightens everyone. He is not one visited by the Word, but the Word visiting us. Jesus is a teacher and a prophet to be sure, but immeasurably more. He is Immanuel (God with us). For John, the “true light” is a universal reality, giving light to everyone, but now coming into the world in Jesus. He is the One behind every true experience of God, always and everywhere.

If this sounds arrogant or ridiculous, ‘twas ever thus. Paul observed that the claims about Jesus are, “...a stumbling block (scandal) to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,..” (1 Cor 1:23) These claims are audacious and outrageous, but they’re not narrow or exclusive. They do not mean that only Christians have true encounters with God, but simply that the One behind all true encounters is the One who comes to us in Jesus.

“Intimations of the Divine” have always happened, and are still happening everywhere. They’re not western or eastern, exotic or mundane, Buddhist or Christian, but simply human; part of the human heritage of serendipitous discernment. And when these experiences happen, as in the case of the event John McCutcheon sings about, (see Dec. 21, Christmas in the Trenches) they typically have a dramatic effect, producing a sense of inter-connectedness, and the conviction that, regardless how fractured our world may appear, we are somehow part of one vast reality.

These experiences always result in compassion and love, but they are, as we have noted, ambiguous. We are broken, hostile creatures, in a broken, hostile world, so these experiences often become mired in the division, conflict and violence of our lives. But, if Jesus is the one behind all true encounters, then all encounters, whether Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Moslem, Atheist, Christian or whatever, are true only to the extent that they make people more selfless, loving and compassionate, i.e., more like Jesus.

Now, a word of caution...

I refer to this season as “Christmas”, not because I’m angry about losing anything, or on a campaign to preserve anything, but simply in the interest of full disclosure. Many are attracted by the innocuous glitz and glitter of the season, and fail to realize that there’s a baby concealed in the wrappings. And this is not some harmless infant, but the one of whom it was said, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel,... so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35)

If you should happen to run across the infant Jesus, proceed with caution. You could be in danger of a genuine encounter with God which will lead to many things: love and mercy, selflessness, humility, compassion, a heart that is broken by the things that break God’s heart, and all the things that go with all these things. He is the light of the world, but if you get too close, or perhaps just close enough, you could get burned. Is this what you really want?

Burning Ember by Steve Bell