Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

CHRISTMAS AND THE BECOMING “I AM”

The richness of language is used to span the literal, the figurative, the physical and the spiritual, the formal and colloquial, and the Bible is filled with all of these applications. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all who would know the true things of God, and of life itself to seriously heed the admonition of 2 Timothy 2:15: study to rightly divide, to arrive at the proper understanding and application of Holy Writ. The meaning of Christmas was revealed millennia ago to Moses and to the enslaved Hebrew people. Think with me for a moment!

Most nominal Christians are passingly familiar with the “I am that I am” of Exodus 3:14: the name God applied to Himself, and told Moses to reveal to his brethren in Egypt. However, translation to various languages has its problems, and decisions of translators must be studied. Here, it should be noted that “I am” is present tense in English, but the Hebrew language does not have tense in verbs: only complete and incomplete states. The incomplete state of this name in Hebrew means it could be translated in English: I have been Whom I have been; I am Who I am; or I shall become Whom I shall become. Certainly the sense of the eternal is depicted, but in recognition that God continually revealed Himself by different names to His people as He moved to fulfill their needs, the latter is preferred as offering the best understanding. After all, the Hebrews were praying for God to come or become to them in forward action of deliverance. Moreover, the “LORD” (Jehovah) of the Old Testament is indeed the Jesus of the New Testament, and He is the final and ultimate “becoming” of God to man. This was fulfilled initially in the great story of His birth as recorded in Luke chapter two, and presently celebrated as Christmas.

Yet, there is another sense of understanding that magnificent name. It is not the revelation of a new personage, but that of the “coming one” even the same Jesus, but now glorified Jesus as the Ruler, Judge and Lord of the planet, and all therein in the great millennial reign. Thus shall the ultimate fulfillment of the name He gave to Moses so long ago be fully realized by His people of covenant in a manner that shall remain eternal. It is then that He shall remain as it would be expressed in the English, “I AM!” What an exceedingly marvelous, and logical extension of thought as focus is retrained on His birth. Here then is the true meaning and joy of Christmas!

FOR THOUGHT: Christmas is a lonely time for some folks. Is it that way for you? Christmas is a very happy and joyful time for many. Is it that way for you? The difference is often the result of focus. Is it on the din and noise of materialism, or on the blessedness of God becoming a man?