Jesus, God With Us by Larry Sparks

Day 6 of the “What Child is This?” Advent Devotional

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)

One of the most prominent identities of God that we celebrate during Advent is Emmanuel, which means God with us (see Matt. 1:23). We read Scriptures about this reality and sing beautiful songs about it. However, I believe one of the powerful reasons for the reality of God with us was to give you and I a picture of what God in us would one day look like.

God became Emmanuel, not just to hang out in the world for 30-plus years, but to show every human being what life could look like for those forgiven of sin and filled with the Holy Spirit. This mode of thinking is a significant upgrade for many of us, but I believe it is so revolutionary and at times, controversial, because we have been inundated with the Deity of Christ, and have denied the blessing of His humanity.

The Deity of Christ is a doctrine that was fought for, vehemently, by the church fathers of old. We celebrate this. We cherish this. We prize the reality that God came to Earth and gave His life for us, the sons of man, so that we could become sons of God.

Jesus Christ is God. This Truth is not up for debate. However, He is equally man. He is as much the Son of Man as the Son of God. Its out of His divinity that we were forgiven of sin, as His blood was the very blood of God (see Acts 20:28). Only the blood of God could make perfect atonement for the sins of humanity.

However, Jesus’ humanity is what serves as a powerful example for what life can look like for you and I. It is Jesus’ humanity that extends the invitation for every believer to live a supernatural life, where our Christian normal is radically redefined. Think about it. Jesus was a man without sin, and He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit. Both of these realities were foreign concepts to those under the Old Covenant, but now, because of the Cross, they are our very identity. We are without sin because of Jesus’ precious blood and we are filled with the Spirit because of Pentecost.

Right before Jesus left the planet, after His resurrection, He made this statement to His disciples in the upper room: As the Father has sent Me, I also send you (John 20:21). Even though the crew was still in shock over the miraculous resurrection, His language made sense to them. It was obvious what Jesus was sent to do: God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:30)

The same God that was with Jesus is with you and I. Acts 10:38 is our mandate, just as it was Jesus’, for these are the things that happen when God is with us—good is accomplished and those oppressed by the devil are healed, delivered and set free.

Advent Prayer

The same God Who was with Jesus is with me. Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You empower me to continue Jesus’ ministry and bring healing to all who are oppressed of the devil!