photo uploaded by nasa1fan/MSFC

“We wait for you.”

As I begin writing my Advent reflections this year, I am listening to Fernando Ortega sing, “We wait for you.” In these four words, he captures the heart of Advent. Now we enter the season of waiting and watching.

In that waiting, we encounter the wonder and miracle of the Incarnation afresh. Over the last few months, I’ve been waiting and listening in the words of Athanasius’ essay, “The Incarnation of the Word of God.” During Advent, I plan to stroll back through these ancient words alongside the texts of Advent. If you’d like to read this delightful expression of devotional theology, I can assure you that you’ll get far more enrichment than from my stumbling words.  You can access the text online at http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/athanasius/incarnation/incarnation.c.htm

Advent begins by looking with hope-filled anticipation toward the glorious appearing of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ at the end of the age. We look for His complete unveiling before the world. We enter into the deep longing of God’s people from the coming of the Lord.

To articulate the deep longing for Christ’s coming at the end of the age, I must go back to the beginning of all things.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
The First Book of Moses, Called Genesis ^{1 1} In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  

WP-Bible plugin)

Athanasius (and other Church Fathers) teach that God creates the heavens and the earth out of nothing. God creates in and through His Word alone.

God creates time and space, the heavens and the earth, animals and plants, Adam and Eve. He creates a world teeming with life and vitality and populated with animals and humans. He does this in and through His Word.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Word of God breaking into this world again and again with power and life and wisdom. He calls Abraham out from the land of Ur, and by His Word, Abraham becomes the “father of many nations.” He calls Moses from the fiery bush, and by His Word sends Moses to deliver the children of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh. He speaks His Word to the children of Israel on Mt. Sinai, audibly delivering the 10 Commandments in the hearing of all the people.

By His Word, He raises them up to be a kingdom of priests. He leads them through the wilderness, testing and humbling them, teaching them that man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  Through Israel and the Law given to Israel, we begin to see that God’s world opens outward toward His Word (see Psalm 19).

The other nations trust in man-made idols, Israel must trust in the Word of God alone. The Psalmist declares the trustworthiness of God’s Word. The prophets condemn idolatry while extolling the Word of God, which stands forever. Isaiah proclaims that God’s Word goes forth from His mouth and does not return empty but accomplishes the purposes of God.

Then in the midst of the great longing of God’s people for deliverance. God’s Word breaks into this grand story with a surprise. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

All things were created in and through the Word of God. The Word of God became a man and dwelt among us. The Word of God is not simply a story of Israel’s history. The Word of God is not simply a set of commandments. The Word of God is not simply wisdom for building our world. The Word of God is not simply a book we call the Bible. The Word of God is a person.

The New Testament reveals with stunned awe that this person is a Jewish man named Jesus, born in the House of David. He suddenly appears as the long-awaited Messiah. The last King of Israel and the true King of all humanity.

As Paul writes in Colossians,

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20Colossians 1:15-20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. in...: or, among all ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. having...: or, making  

WP-Bible plugin; ESV)

Before I complete this meditation, let us pause and join Mary who when she beheld Jesus, treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Popularity: 1% [?]