Online Advent Devotional -- 2014: Eternal Life

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Eternal Life

1 John 1: 7:12 — That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you.

In the birth we celebrate this season the word became flesh, eternal life entered into one specific life. Now through the word about that life and that incarnation, eternal life can enter our lives.

Bask in this mystery. Give thanks in all things. Open your heart to the joy of God!

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The Mystery of Incarnation

Although I have always loved and respected Jesus, there was a time in my life when I completely rejected the doctrine of the incarnation. How could the creator of the universe become a human like you and me? That was pure silliness. Jesus was the greatest teacher, and was worthy of people following him. I could agree with that. But that didn’t mean that God was incarnate in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Part of my rejection of incarnation was the stage of life I was in at the time. Everything had to be rational, provable by scientific investigation. Everything had to be one thing, not two. Jesus couldn’t be fully God and fully human at the same time. I hadn’t yet learned to appreciate paradox and mystery.

But another part of my rejection of the doctrine of the incarnation had nothing to do with the rationality of the doctrine but with the implications of the event, if it actually had occurred. If God had been incarnate in Jesus, then my life, as well as my thinking, would have to head in a new direction.

One day, while meditating of the first few verses of the first letter of John (Dec. 24), I began to understand how it was possible for God to become flesh. That changed my thinking and my life.

During this time of Advent it is appropriate to meditate on the incarnation. We can be full of wonder and awe at the birth and life of Jesus. We can pray for the “little child of Bethlehem” to be “born in us today.” And we can submit ourselves to incarnation so that our spirit, our highest hopes for holiness and righteousness, take flesh in our lives here and now.