Giving By REV. BOB THUNE
Characterizing the spirit of Christ mas is one key word which is “giv ing." The epitome of giving is illustrated in the expression of God when He gave His only Son. The entire Bible revolves around this theme. In John 1:14 we read, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." The first verse of this chap ter establishes the fact that the Word we know to be Jesus Christ is also God. What was the nature of His hu manity when He "became flesh"? Certainly He did not cease to be God. He actually changed His mode of being. A few years ago in the South, John Griffin took on the guise of a black man. He wanted to find out what it was like to live that way and see what the prejudice was really like. With make-up and other adjustments he was able to pass as a black man. While he did not become a differ ent person, he did change his mode of being. When Jesus be came flesh He did not cease to be God. At the same time He did not just appear to be a man. He ac tually became flesh as He assumed a human body. Our minds are in capable of understanding the full scope of this truth. There is no adequate analogy to illustrate it. John Griffin just appeared to be a black man. Christ became entirely human. This is one of the great mysteries of the Word of God. Page 52
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