Hannah1 was an atheist when we first met her, a bright young woman with a highly scientific mindset, but her convictions eventually began to change. “I believe there is a God,” she confessed to Peggy and me one evening before adding, “But I don’t believe in Jesus being God.” We’ve all heard this before, and perhaps said it ourselves. In fact, we’d probably agree that one of the primary reasons people struggle with Jesus is the very notion of a man being God or a man becoming God. When Jewish leaders surrounded Jesus one winter’s day in the temple, they, with stone in hand, accused Him of blasphemy, “because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”2 Indeed, if “a mere man” were to proclaim himself or be esteemed by others as deity, we would rightfully object.
In Jesus’ case, however, the flaw lies in the premise. Jesus is not a man who became God; He is the eternal Son of God who, for a specific time and purpose, became a man. This distinction changes everything. Jesus “was God,” wrote John, and “He was in the beginning with God.”3 Some 700-plus years before the birth of Jesus, Micah foretold His coming this way: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”4 The phrase, “from ancient days” here refers to Jesus’ timeless origin. The Messiah of eternal existence would be borne to us in Bethlehem, claimed the prophet, and indeed He has. Jesus himself proclaimed, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am.”5 Paul echoed the same of Christ Jesus, who “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”6
As Jesus stood before Pilate, the increasingly frightened governor asked of Him the question that confronts us all: “Where are you from?”7 From a human perspective, we could say Jesus was from Bethlehem, Egypt, Galilee, or Nazareth — all would be true. But His origin is elsewhere: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”8 Can a mere mortal rise up and save us? No, only the Son of God can do that.
Epilogue. Hannah has since become a believer in Jesus Christ, embracing relationship with Him through His Word and refreshingly open and trusting prayer. Her inner joy outward shines.
Father, thank You for sending Jesus from Your presence and into our world. Truly He is the Son of God. In Him we trust, in Him we live, and in Him we pray. Amen.
1 This name is changed for privacy purposes.
2 John 10:33 NASB
3 John 1:1-2 ESV
4 Micah 5:2 ESV
5 John 8:58 ESV
6 Philippians 2:6-7 NIV
7 John 19:9 ESV
8 John 6:38 ESV
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Paul Nordman—Author 