Phil Chou
(Chinese version)
At Christmas, we reflect on God’s “transcendence” and “immanence.” On one hand, God is the supreme, holy Creator who is far above and beyond all creation. On the other hand, He is willing to humble Himself, identify with humanity, and be close to us. These are the two different aspects of God’s relationship with humanity. Throughout the Bible, both aspects are recorded, but rarely do they appear simultaneously. Theologians say that God has many attributes, including omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. According to the Bible and our spiritual experiences, we can divide these attributes into two opposing aspects: “justice” and “love,” or “transcendence” and “immanence.” God’s omnipotence points to His holy transcendence and justice. His omnipresence indicates His ability to enter and dwell in human hearts. His omniscience shows His plan and providence, bringing transcendence and immanence together at the appointed time. While the Bible rarely records both aspects appearing simultaneously, they are implicitly expressed in the Old Testament and become evident in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus.
Consider this: the great, awe-inspiring, holy Creator, the jealous God like consuming fire, the God who is angry because of sin, displays transcendence and justice. But according to His plan, when the time came, He revealed Himself in a completely new way, wonderfully expressing His immanence and love. On Christmas night, shepherds saw Him and did not die! Though Jesus was a baby, He was God incarnate! This marks the beginning of the new covenant, to fulfill all things in the new covenant.
Jesus, who became human, later accomplished salvation on the cross, establishing the new covenant of redemption. Only by becoming human could He die for humanity. But to become truly human, He had to be born first. Otherwise, He could not be crucified. God’s methods are indeed beyond human imagination! “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). God did not send Christ to descend from heaven in a dramatic way, appearing as a god in human form, immediately defeating the rulers of the Roman Empire and even defeating the forces of evil. This is more like what the Jews imagined the Messiah to be. Instead, He began humbly in a manger, growing slowly, becoming truly human under the law, identifying with us sinners. “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. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8).
In this act of self-limitation, God’s great glory is revealed. Therefore, after the angels announced the good news to the shepherds, a great company of the heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” God’s glory is manifested in His choice to set aside His divine transcendence, humbling Himself to become human in Jesus, thus radiating great light! Just as Isaiah prophesied. When the angels sang, they pointed to two places: one is the glory in the highest heaven, and the other is the peace on earth. Consider “highest” and “earth.” The heavenly glory of God and the peace of humanity on earth are united in the birth of Jesus! This is the union of God’s “justice” and “love.” Through the grace of redemption, both attributes are clearly displayed. Further, we see that the purpose of Jesus’s birth is to lead Him to the cross. The cross is the highest manifestation of the union of “justice” and “love.” This union begins with Jesus’s birth.
Such a union of “transcendence” and “immanence,” “justice” and “love,” in one place, is God’s original intention. Therefore, it is mentioned in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament.
An atheist who later became a prominent Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, once said: “God is both further from us, and nearer to us, than any other being.” Indeed, because of God’s compassionate and wondrous love, His “transcendence” and “immanence” can merge. This merging is seen in the infant Jesus.
Christmas is the prelude to the amazing grace of the cross. Christmas prepares us for the Passion Week and Easter. It tells us that soon, seeing Jesus is seeing God, and through Jesus, we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Thank God for revealing His wondrous union of “transcendence” and “immanence” through the birth of Jesus!
Wishing you a Merry Christmas!