An Advent Journey: When God Became Small — Day Twenty-Two

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Hebrews 1:1-4, NRSV

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Again today, this passage is a particular favorite of mine. “In these last days. . . ” God speaks to the world through a son. A son who is heir to all, through whom creation happened.

And who shows us who God is. Exactly who God is. A mirror image, a complete reflection of who God is, what God is like, ‘the exact imprint of God’s very being.’

This is amazing. THIS IS AMAZING. This is what we say we believe, it’s central to our understanding of who we are as followers of Jesus . . . and yet . . . And here, that ‘yet’ has a much more melancholy feel to it, doesn’t it?

I don’t think we live out what we say we believe. At least, not fully. If Jesus is the true image-bearer, then what we see in him cannot contradict what we say we see in God. And I guess that means that God is on the look-out for the lost, the least, the littlest, the last. Because that’s what Jesus did, that’s who Jesus was.

God is not interested in our power structures, our organizational skills, our decisions about who’s out and who’s in because Jesus wasn’t.  

And, friends. . . that is earth-shaking. Truly.

Oh, Jesus. Oh, Yahweh. Oh, Spirit. Sometimes I think I play you off against one another in my head. And yet, your word tells me that Jesus is the real deal, the whole enchilada, the perfect picture of GOD. Help me to reach for the hem of your garment, Lord, every single day. Because I need to remind myself that you walked these dusty roads with us and that you broke every stereotype, every preconception, every human understanding of who God is and what God is about. Hallelujah!

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Comments

  1. Wonderful Diana!! Such a message gives Hope and Joy…all that is the meaning of Christmas !! Thank you for this seasonal
    reason we celebrate !

  2. Hallelujah, indeed! It is truly amazing!
    Blessings!