John spoke of the Word becoming flesh, a mystery beyond human comprehension. Unlike our words, which cannot take on physical form and can only be heard but not seen, the Word of God, which created the entire world and everything in it, took on the form of a human body. As we celebrate Christmas, we often marvel at Jesus being born in a manger but overlook the mystery of how the Word could take on human form. Spoken words are intangible, yet the intangible created the tangible. Now, the things we can see are temporary, while the unseen remains eternal.
The One and the Only God
God has no specific name because He is unique, like the sun, water, or air. Just as water and air are called by the same names across the world, God is universally recognized as God throughout the universe. Yet, we often feel uneasy addressing Him directly as “God.” Instead, we confuse His provisions—things we can see—with God Himself. For instance, the sun, though nameless, is visible to all. Its uniqueness led people to revere it as a deity and worship it, mistaking the creation for the Creator. Paul’s writings below highlight humanity’s failure to recognize the Creator and instead stop at His creation.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. – Romans 1:20-23 (NIV)
The Visibility of God
God created humanity in His image, granting eternal life and the blessing of walking and communing with Him. Adam and Eve were able to see God. However, sin entered the world, creating a separation between humanity and God. Sin turned eternal life into mortality, and the sinful nature of humanity made it impossible to see the Holy God without facing death. While God remains visible, sin blinds people from perceiving His glory (2 Corinthians 4:4). This truth was revealed through the prophet Isaiah.
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear. – Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV)
Similarly, David expressed his personal experience of sin standing as a barrier between himself and God (Psalm 51:2, 9). Sin not only separates humanity from God but also leads to eternal death. Yet, even in this fallen world, God remains unchanged and reveals Himself to those who are pure in heart (Matthew 5:8). Because of sin, humanity lost its immortality and the blessing of living in God’s presence forever.
God Gave His Son
In their mortal state, humanity could never have imagined regaining what was lost—eternal life. At this point, God gave His Son, who came in a mortal body, to restore immortality to mankind (Romans 8:3-4). To accomplish this, God prepared a body for His Word. The author of the book of Hebrews explains this unique truth as follows:
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased. – Hebrews 10:5-6 (NIV)
John recorded his experience of witnessing the Word dwelling among humanity in a mortal body (John 1:14). The Son of God, living in a mortal form, obeyed His Father completely, even to the point of death on the cross. Because of His obedience, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, granting Him an immortal body and exalting Him to His right hand in glory. Now, Jesus is no longer accessible in His mortal form but is revealed as the eternal Lord (Philippians 2:6-11).
We must recognize that Jesus serves as the provision through whom we can approach God the Father. This was the ultimate purpose assigned to Him by the Father when He was sent to us. The prophet Isaiah foretold this mission in the following verse:
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
The Word that God sent fulfilled the purpose for which it was given—reconciling humanity with God, their Father. When Jesus took on a mortal form, bearing the sin of the world, He experienced separation from the Father. In this moment of anguish, He referred to God not as His Father but simply as God.
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). – Matthew 27:46 (NIV)
This crucial moment is detailed by the author of the book of Hebrews.
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. – Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)
Had Jesus not taken the ultimate step of crying out to God at the critical moment, humanity would still be trapped in sin, destined for eternal death. Jesus became our brother to accomplish the mission for which He was sent. As Jesus has become our brother, we too have received the Spirit of Sonship to call God as our Abba Father.
Who Is Jesus to Us?
Scripture consistently portrays Jesus as the Son of the living God. When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter boldly declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Despite this revelation, Peter struggled with the reality of Jesus no longer being present in His mortal body. Similarly, the disciples on the road to Emmaus failed to recognize the resurrected Jesus because they were looking for Him in His mortal form.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. – 2 Corinthians 5:16 (NIV)
Paul learned a life lesson: he resolved not to seek Jesus in His physical form, recognizing that Christ had conquered death and risen with a celestial body. Furthermore, Paul chose to regard no one merely by their fleshly nature but instead to see them in their soul. Are we, however, still clinging to a physical image of Jesus, hesitant to acknowledge Him fully as our Lord? God exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above every name—the only name worthy of our reverence, “Lord” (Philippians 2:9).
Have we embraced the opportunity God provides through Jesus to reconcile with Him and call Him “Abba, Father,” fully understanding His boundless love? Or are we still fixated on Jesus’ earthly form, hesitant to fully reconcile with Father God? This Christmas season let us reflect on the true purpose behind God giving us His Son: to reveal His immense love for the world (John 3:16). Humanity once feared God, seeing Him as a stern dictator, but through Jesus, God revealed His heart of love.
The song “Good Good Father” by Chris Tomlin encapsulates the essence of Christmas, even though it is not traditionally considered a Christmas song. Many Christmas carols focus on the manger, the night of Jesus’ birth, the angels’ proclamation, and the wise men’s adoration of the infant Christ. Yet, the central message of Christmas—God’s immeasurable love—is often overlooked. This season, let us remember that God gave His Son to demonstrate how deeply He loves us.
A Christmas Resolution
Those who do not know God often mistake His provision for God Himself. Let us be careful not to become fixated on Jesus solely, but to see Him as the way to the Father (John 14:6).
This Christmas season, let us not overlook the boundless love of God. Instead, let us surrender our lives to Him, who loves us deeply, so that our brother Jesus may reconcile us with our Father. In doing so, we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), bringing joy to our Heavenly Father—just as holding a newborn baby fills a parent’s heart with delight.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. – Jude 1:24-25 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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