We don’t really get to be together as a Wesley community during Christmas. And this event that we aren’t together for, well, it’s a really big deal!
And as I say that, you think, “Of course it is, Tony!”
But it’s an even bigger deal than you know!
I shared the following quote with the Wesley staff at our Christmas party earlier this month. And wanted to share it now, with you:
It’s from the 4th century father of the church, St. Athanasius, in his short but powerful work On The Incarnation.
...through this union of the immortal Son of God with our human nature, all humanity is clothed with incorruption in the promise of the resurrection. For the solidarity of humanity is such that, by virtue of the Word's indwelling in a single human body, the corruption which goes with death has lost its power over all.
You know how it is when some great king enters a large city and dwells in one of its houses; because of his dwelling in that single house, the whole city is honored, and enemies and robbers cease to bother it. Even so is it with the King of all; He has come into our country and dwelt in one body amidst the many, and in consequence the designs of the enemy against humankind have been foiled, and the corruption of death, which formerly held them in its power, has simply ceased to be.
What Athanaisus is saying is that because of what has happened in Jesus EVERYTHING is NOW different just by the simple fact that Jesus is who he is.
Because ALL of God comes to happen together with ALL that we are in the person of Jesus, there is now something brand new and life giving opened up to us.
Now, he’s not trying to downplay the significance of the cross or Jesus’ death and resurrection. No. He just wants to slow us down before we get there to let us marvel at what God has done in coming to us in Jesus.
In these days of Christmas, what does it mean for you to wonder and reflect on God’s solidarity with you in Jesus? In whatever you or those around you face or carry, can you allow this reality to enter in - In Jesus, God joins you in that. God stands with you, is your companion, enters into the hurt, the sadness, the longing, the confusion. And Athanaisus says this kind of solidarity to humanity is what finally undoes the designs of the enemy and the power that has so long enslaved us.
So, Merry Christmas! God is with you!