Christmas: God Revealing God
It’s that time of year where we celebrate and reflect upon the birth of Jesus, our Savior. Jesus, who according to John 1, is God, was sent by God the Father to earth as a man. God Himself revealed Jesus as His Son to people in Israel on more than one occasion.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17 (KJV)
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Matthew 17:1-5 (KJV)
The primary purpose of Jesus’ life was to die as the sacrificial substitute for our sins. However, another purpose of His life on earth was to show us the Father.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? John 14:6-9 (KJV)
The Father sent Jesus to earth, then He testified of who Jesus was. He revealed Jesus’ identity to the Jews at His baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration. In turn, Jesus then revealed the Father to men. God came to earth in bodily form to reveal God to men. Jesus was revealed by the Father and the Father was revealed by the Son.
And then, to take it all a step further, once Jesus had completed His mission and returned to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit, whose person He had introduced, or revealed, to the disciples. The Holy Spirit then came to glorify and reveal the Son to men.
The Father revealed Jesus. Jesus revealed the Father. Jesus revealed the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus. Because Jesus came to earth, we can now know God on a personal basis.
