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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-14

According to human law it was inconceivable that the Divine would ever become human. God was to remain God, both in the image humanity created God to be – powerful, violent and judgmental – as well as in locale – God lived above the heavens, distant and powerful, to be feared and reverenced, clearly distinguishable from humanity and creation.

The idea that God could be recognisable, visible, “born” into poverty in an obscure town into a refugee family and that he would demonstrate a life of active love and sacrificial service for others and bring indictment upon the rich and powerful, was inconceivable in first-century Judea. With the affirmation in the prologue of the gospel of John that “the Word became flesh”, the tension between fallible humanity and God is heightened. But God does not cease here to be wholly “other” in relation to the flesh; this God chooses to dwell within humanity as the flesh that is Jesus Christ.

Thoughts to consider –

• God does not advocate from a distance but comes near in the person of Jesus Christ
• Advocacy and the protesting of injustices on behalf of and with others demands two things – a faithfulness to our own humanity and defined by Jesus’ own example
• The Gospel is not in the least concerned with our anxiety to be right; it wants to see right done.

As we prepare to celebrate “God with us” this Christmas season, let us not forget the poor and displaced for it was with them that the Christ Child chose to dwell.

Ian and Wendy Swan

Colonels
Directors – International Social Justice Commission