A God Like No Other
According to the names of the days of the week, the months of the year, the existence of the Olympic games and a host of other practices, more of our thinking is influenced by the Greeks and Romans who lived before us than we realize. I think Wikipedia explained it well: “The culture of the ancient Greeks, together with some influences from the ancient Near East, was the basis of art, philosophy, society, and education in the Mediterranean and Near East until the Roman imperial period. The Romans preserved, imitated, and spread this culture over Europe until they were able to compete with it, and the classical world began to speak Latin along with Greek. This Greco-Roman cultural foundation has been immensely influential on the language, politics, law, educational systems, philosophy, science, warfare, poetry, historiography, ethics, rhetoric, art and architecture of the modern world.”
Greece and Rome were also known for their many deities. Deities were believed to be responsible for different aspects of life. Many required sacrifices to be appeased and demanded strict obedience. Images of those who ruled by brute force in the heavens undoubtedly influenced the same behaviour by those who believed them on earth. ‘To behold is to become.’
Yet the inspired scriptures, when interpreted through the lens of Jesus, present us with a different view of God. He is described as one while yet being three persons. Genesis 1:26; 1 John 5:7. In Psalm 103:17, David expressed: “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children…” The prophet Isaiah was inspired by this thought: “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” 49:15-17
With that in mind, could it be that we are holding a view of God that is more like the deities of Greece and Rome than the God Jesus reflected?
The Ultimate Descension
When compared with other views of deity, the God of creation, as expressed through Jesus, is in a class of His own. For us to appreciate the descension of God, we need to grasp His awesomeness. He didn’t descend to punish the struggling race. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17. This verse along with John 3:16 introduces a God wholly different than any other. His heart broke when a third of the angels rebelled and Adam and Eve turned away from Him. Yet He volunteered to become the sacrifice needed to redeem us.
Matthew 1:23 says “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, as “God with us.” He was not ‘God as us’ meaning He became infected with the same carnal nature that we were infected with. He remained fully God while He was fully human. Philippians 2:5-8 states it beautifully: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
The following illustration has helped me see this subject more clearly. “When we are lied to, betrayed or attacked, we must resist expressing what is natural in us. Retaliation and violence aren’t something that we need to pray for, it’s what we are programmed to do. We must pray for the strength to respond in a way unnatural to us. Such as forgiveness, compassion, patience, etc. With Jesus, He never had to put the desire to retaliate or crush His enemies under subjection because He never had such desires. His only response was selfless love for the other. It was always natural for Him to be more concerned for others than His welfare. He remained fully Divine.” Paraphrased from Tim Jennings.
Forever Tied to Humanity
After the Son of God completed His mission and presented Himself before His followers, He addressed doubt that existed amongst them. In the greatest demonstration of show and tell He said: “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Luke 2:39. His body was recognizable. The scars that He received for our salvation are still there and will mark Him for eternity. The story of redemption will be expounded upon in ways we could hardly comprehend right now. Angels and saints will be learning more about the depths of God’s love and why sin requires such a sacrifice. “In taking our nature, the Savior has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages, He is linked with us. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” John 3:16. He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the fallen race.” Desire of Ages
Conclusion
This is the God who wants to restore the broken relationship between us and Himself. In Greek mythology, the god Prometheus created humans and in an act of adoration, stole fire to give light to them. But the God of the scriptures Has given us Himself! He has become our Light, our Savior, our High Priest, our Propitiation, our Atonement and so much more! It is this union that shocked the universe, and it is this God who pleads with us when He says: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.