Advent: December 21 – The One Who Became Human

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1–7

Who is this God? This is the God who became human, just like us. He is fully human. Because of this, nothing about being human is unfamiliar to him. The person I am, Jesus Christ also was. When we talk about Jesus Christ, we say: this man is God.

This does not mean we already understood who God is. It also does not mean that saying, this man is God, adds something extra to being human. God and humanity are not naturally connected by any concept or definition. Instead, saying this man is God means something entirely different. The divinity of Jesus Christ is not something added on top of his humanity. The statement this man is God comes as a truth from above. It does not change anything about Jesus Christ’s humanity but shows that this whole human being is God.

Faith comes from seeing Jesus Christ as a human being. When we describe Jesus Christ as God, we do not focus on ideas like omnipotence (all-powerful) or omniscience (all-knowing). Instead, we think of his cradle and his cross. God is not defined by being all-powerful or everywhere at once. Instead, God is revealed in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and love for humanity.

And now Christmas is coming and you won’t be there. We shall be apart, yes, but very close together. My thoughts will come to you and accompany you. We shall sing “Friede auf Erden” [Peace on Earth] and pray together, but we shall sing “Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe!” [Glory be to God on high] even louder. That is what I pray for you and for all of us, that the Savior may throw open the gates of heaven for us at darkest night on Christmas Eve, so that we can be joyful in spite of everything.

Maria von Wedemeyer to Bonhoeffer,
December 10, 1943

^{Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. God Is in the Manger : Reflections on Advent and Christmas. Louisville, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, 2012.}