Recently in my personal bible reading, I began reading through the gospel of John again. This has coincided with a desire in me to return to meditating on the hypostatic union - the union of divine and human natures in one person called Jesus. When I was a young Christian, nothing used to thrill my heart more than dwelling on this aspect of Jesus. It would bring me to rapturous places of joy to behold the glory of Christ as God and man. I loved particularly to dwell upon the scriptures, particularly in John, that spoke of Jesus divinity.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5 NASB).
...For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent Him. (John 5:22,23)
So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am." (John 8:57,58)
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:27-30)
Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:8,9)
I also love to dwell on the fact that this Jesus is also completetly human. John is not alone in communicating this. Jesus was born like any other man (Luke 2:7). He became hungry (Matthew 4:2). He became thirsty (John 19:28). He became tired (John 4:6). He died (Mark 15:37). Finally, like all people will at the last day, and especially His elect ones, He arose bodily from the dead (Acts 1:3).
This is just a small sampling of passages which would fill me with joy in thinking about. Beyond these, lay the many passages in the Old Testament, or in Paul's letters, or in John's epistles that speak the same truths.
In addition to these still are the creeds. The Nicene Creed or the Definition of Chalcedon gave form to the Church's teaching in this area contra the many heretical doctrines of various sects. I love to sing many of the hymns and songs that put Jesus' divine glory to music like "Fairest Lord Jesus" or "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee".
In short, I praise God that He is bringing me back to those places of joy, awe, and wonder at the divine and human glory of Jesus. I am thankful that He is bringing me personal renewal through dwelling on Christ. I have found that when I am feeling sad or upset, that returning to thinking about Jesus in this way has a profoundly healing effect. I hope the reader also is encouraged to ponder Jesus as the wonderful God-man.
-Christian
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