For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.
(Colossians 2:9, ESV)
In the aftermath of a Christmas celebration with my family, there is no shortage of traditional, fun, or even painful “unions.” On the heels of a special Christmas dinner, Great-Grandpa makes his annual communion with the knights of nap. At other times, children sit at a table and create a magnificent new structure by putting Legos together. Or an unassuming adult walks by said table and the sensation of stabbing pain makes him realize one of those Legos with its pointed corners has merged with his heel. These unions are, in some sense, an example of “two becoming one.” However, none of them truly represent the glorious union of divine and human in one person, Jesus Christ.
This perfect union sits at the heart of the Christmas story. God the Son becoming man reveals God’s care for His creation in general, and for humanity in particular. The human nature of Jesus isn’t just “part” of Him alongside His deity, as if Jesus Christ could in any way be divided. Rather, as Colossians 2:9 tells us, we find the “fullness of deity” in Jesus Christ. Deity dwells bodily. We see in Jesus a union between divine and human. Never less than human. Never less than divine. Always one person. In becoming human, God the Son has gone “all in” for humanity and creation, holding nothing back as He seeks to accomplish His redemptive plan.
This “all in” reality of Jesus as God-Man carries with it results for believing humanity. Our affirmation of the Incarnation is not just about behavior modification or belief alteration. Rather, the union of divine and human in Jesus provides humans the possibility of union with God Himself. This Christmas, carefully consider the person of Jesus Christ. Appreciate the truth that your faith in Jesus yields you a union with God (and with His people) precisely because He brought humanity and deity together in Himself.