How do you get to know someone? Of course, there are many means to do this—you can (and should) study their actions, talk to others who know them, observe them in various situations. Talking to them, seeking to understand their thoughts is critical. These are crucial ways to get to know someone. But, is this possible with God? How can we get to know the Sovereign King of the Universe?
In years past, Kelly and I used to run a seminar with high school and college students about dating. Mind you, not that I had a lot of practical experience (Kelly was one of the few girls that took pity on me), but being married, it was assumed that we had some inside information. Actually, we put a lot of prayer, thought, and spiritual discernment into the seminar, asking: what does a dating relationship look like which honors and pleases our Lord and Savior?
One of the key components, we believe, in a healthy dating relationship is built upon the recognition that humans are complex creatures, with various aspects to our humanity. God did not create us with just one or two characteristics, but instead made us to reflect His own character in multiple ways. We are more than just bodies. We are more than just spirits. Humans are relational, mental, spiritual, physical, familial, financial, social creatures, and indeed, much more.
If the goal of dating is to develop intimacy with the whole person, to learn about them in ever-deepening ways, then our dating habits need to consider the complex character in which we all are. How do you get to know a person spiritually? Design a date to explore this. What is a person’s familial background? Design a date around getting to know their family. What stimulates them intellectually? Mentally? What are they like in different social situations? Creative dating explores all these and allows a deepening intimacy with your dating partner.
And so, Immanuel. God-with-us.
How can we get to know God? Can we “date” Him? This is the doctrine of divine revelation, recognizing that, at the core, we know God because He has chosen to show Himself to us. Just like dating an individual involves watching what they do, so we learn of God through His actions, His work. How many of us have stood in awe of creation—a mountain top, ocean view, or floral display—and recognized the Creator behind it all? How frequently has the miraculous birth of a child led us to be in awe of the One who gives us children? How often are we overcome by God’s persistence in His forgiveness and mercy amidst a broken and evil generation? We learn of the Lord through watching what He does.
Of course, there is a limit to what we can learn of God through His works. What we need is to see Him, to talk with Him, to be near Him. What we need is… Immanuel! We need God to be with us, so we can see, hear, and question. We need God to come to us so that we can know Him as He truly is. Just as there are many things to learn of each of us, so there is much to learn of our Lord, and we learn it by revelation, His self-revealing. And that self-revelation has happened most clearly in the Incarnation, in God-coming-to-earth, by Immanuel!
To prepare for worship this Sunday, read John 1:14-18.
- “The Word became flesh…” Why is this so significant? What other means might God have chosen? Why is the incarnation so very central to His self-revelation?
- “We have seen His glory…” How is the second part of the verse connected to the first part? How does “becoming flesh” relate to “seeing His glory?”
- “Full of grace and truth.” How does the coming of Jesus make this clearer about God? God is grace and truth. OK, but how does Jesus “reveal” this to us?
- “He ranks before me…” How does John the Baptist’s testimony here about Jesus support the author’s claim that Jesus coming in the flesh reveals God’s grace and truth?
- “He has made Him known.” OK, the point here might be a bit obscured by the use of too many pronouns! Who is the “He” and who the “Him” in this verse? How does the incarnation, Immanuel, make this possible?
By Henry Knapp