Christmas Math
“Christmas Math” are two words we usually don’t put together. There is nothing particularly festive or ‘Christmas-y’ about math. However, there is a math (and logic) formula that illuminates one of the most important Scriptures when understanding what the Bible says about who Jesus is in the opening paragraphs of the New Testament.
The formula is this:
If A = B and B= C, then A=C. This formula may cause some of you to want to run down the hall to your history or literature class, but please follow me. Look what happens when you apply this formula to the first verses of the New Testament in John 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)
In the beginning was the Word (A)… and the Word was God (A=B). This opening statement, which has been compared to the ‘In the beginning’ creation story in Genesis 1:1, is a clear A=B statement. The Word is equal to God. But what is the Word? John answers that question by completing the formula a few verses later:
…And the Word (A) became flesh (C) and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)
The “Word” here is clearly Jesus himself. The entire preface to the book of John in verses 1-18, is a beautiful tribute to the fact that Jesus is God and has come to live among us. The logic is clear:
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- God = The Word
- The Word = Jesus
- Therefore, Jesus = God
Christmas is a time where we stop and recognize the incredible theological meaning behind “God dwelling among us” in the form of Jesus. Jesus wasn’t just a prophet, or a good person, or someone who sacrificed for the good of others. Jesus is God.
The God who created heaven and earth dwelt in that creation. The artist who painted this entire masterpiece became part of the paint. Incredibly, he painted himself in as a poor child born in a barn among cattle and sheep. Then he grew up an average man working as a carpenter. When his public ministry began he focused on healing, love, and sacrifice, not governmental overthrow and earthly power.
What does this tell us about God? One thing it tells us is He is for us, not against us. Too often we see God has a judge in the sky. We think He is looking down on us ready with a lightening bolt when we get out of line. Nothing could be farther from the truth as proven by Jesus’ coming at Christmas.
And the Word (God) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth….For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14-17)
The law was given to show us our need for the Savior. Too often we condemn ourselves because we aren’t keeping the rules, but Jesus came to give grace and truth. Jesus says of himself he did not come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17). This means that God Almighty, Jesus Christ, has come to bring us peace and life, not judgement and condemnation. We can sing with JOY as Sir Isaac Watts wrote:
Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.
So this Christmas, when you see that Nativity scene with the baby in a manger in someone’s yard or outside a church, remember that God came in flesh. He came to show his love for you. God came himself to save us and show us a better way to live. Not for ourselves and this world, but for Him and His Kingdom.
God became flesh and dwelt among us.
This truth is one that will change your life forever.
Blessings and peace,
Rev. Todd
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Christmas at Mariners’
Christmas Eve Services
Wednesday, December 24th
4:30 and 7:30 pm