A Christmas message from NZ church leaders’ invites reflection on the identity of Jesus. Photo / Getty Images
On dusty first-century Middle Eastern paths, somewhere between a place called Bethsaida and the village of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus of Nazareth posed a probing question to His ragtag band of followers: “Who do people say that I am?”
At the time, the identity of this miracle-worker, who had emerged from the obscurity of a hometown that would cause people to sneer, was provoking all kinds of wild speculation.
Who exactly was this man who taught with such unprecedented and unrivalled authority?
Ask the same question of most people in our day and they might say Jesus was one of history’s most influential moral teachers. Today, many centuries beyond His earthly life and ministry, the impact of His actions and His words is still profoundly felt. But was this the most definitive thing about Jesus?
In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis suggests “a man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell”.
In other words, there was something more to this Jesus than there was to the typical rabbi.
Everyone at that time, from the street merchants to King Herod himself, seemed to perceive this. Yes, a man. But not merely a man. The rumours were rife that He was one of the renowned prophets of Israel’s history, having returned from the dead.
But did even this go far enough? And so, Jesus presses those journeying alongside Him with a more personal and confrontational question: “Who do you say that I am?”
There are many questions swirling around our world today, but this one remains the most important one… it is one that we all must answer for ourselves.
Christmas can truly be a wonderful time of the year – the delight of family, food, traditions and gift-giving. But for Christians, there’s something more grand about this day.
It’s also a time of celebrating the Incarnation, which is another wonderful, paradoxical Christian mystery: that God became human in the form of Jesus Christ.
Who do we say that He is? We say that He is God in flesh. In fact, it’s not just us saying it. In the Incarnation, God Himself proclaims this to all of creation. This is the essence of the Christmas story.
The Christmas story centres around a Bethlehem manger. In response to a royal decree, and with everyone else, Joseph and Mary had made their way to their hometown to be registered. As we read in the Bible accounts: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.”
The child Mary was carrying was no ordinary child. So, it was fitting (and necessary) that this child was conceived in a remarkable way; Mary, a virgin, was “overshadowed by the Holy Spirit”.
This divine, supernaturally conceived child entered our world and appeared on the stage of human history in a lowly manger. What an unsuitable way for such a life to start! Yet, this was perhaps the perfect way for the life of Jesus to begin.
In one of the gospel accounts/biographies of Jesus’ life, John wrote that God “became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood” (John 1:14). He planted Himself smack-bang in the mess of nature and humanity, right from the beginning of His life.
Imagine if someone extraordinary, who truly understood your struggles and joys, moved into your neighbourhood. That’s what Christians believe happened with Jesus. They see Him as God choosing to live among us, experiencing life as we do, and offering empathy and support.
This idea of God becoming human is central to the Christmas story. It speaks to the belief that there is a divine presence who truly gets us. Are you weary? He can empathise. Are you in pain? He can empathise. Are you distressed? He can empathise. Are you lonely? He can empathise.
In the Incarnation, we have a God who chooses to be with us, a God who can understand and is willing to “roll up His sleeves” and help. For Christians, Jesus is more than just a historical figure; He represents hope and help in the messiness of life.
Christians believe God moved into our neighbourhood to love and to help His neighbours. Who is His neighbour? You are His neighbour.
As you’d expect from God, this was not haphazard or ad hoc. While it might seem to be a calamitous case of the collision of unfortunate circumstances, God had actually willed and ordained that this child (His child) would walk a narrow road.
It was a road beginning with limited room on offer in Bethlehem for His birth, and ending with spitting and scoffing, and the nails on the cross in Jerusalem for His death.
In becoming one of us, He understands. In dying, He would pay the debt for all of our sin; all the mess of our lives can be cleaned up, should we trust in Him with faith for forgiveness.
At Christmas, while many enjoy time with family and partake in festive traditions, Christians also celebrate this profound belief that God entered into our neighbourhood at just the right time.
We confess, with the testimony of God in the Incarnation, that Jesus is Lord, God in flesh: a unique figure who lived a life of compassion and integrity, ultimately offering forgiveness and a fresh start.
But that’s just what Christians say. What about you? Who do you say that He is? May the words of the popular carol resonate in your life this year:
“Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold Him come,
offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.”
On behalf of church leaders across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, we wish you a very merry Christmas and welcome you to attend a gathering or event at a church this Christmas. We pray for the welfare of this city. We bless you in the name of the Incarnate King.
Reti Ah-Voa, regional leader, Northern Baptist Association,
Reverend Paul and Pam Allen-Baines, Congregational Union of New Zealand,
Right Reverend Ross Bay, Anglican Bishop of Auckland,
Pastor Tak Bhana, senior pastor, Church Unlimited,
Pastors Steve and Dawn Burgess, senior pastors, C3 Grow,
Majors David and Denise Daly, Auckland area officers, The Salvation Army,
Pastors Luke and Melissa de Jong, senior pastors, LIFE,
Pastors Jonathan and Robyn Dove, senior pastors, Gracecity Church,
Richard Fountain, Auckland enabler, Christian Community Churches of New Zealand,
Darren and Sharon Gammie, national secretary, Assemblies of God New Zealand,
Pastors Steve and Rebecca Green, senior pastors, Elim Christian Centre,
Pastor Rowan Hilsden, senior pastor, Evangelical Church, Auckland leader, Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches,
Brett Jones, national superintendent, Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand,
Reverend Doctor Stuart Lange, national director, New Zealand Christian Network,
Reverend Kok Soon Lee, Auckland Chinese Churches Association,
Reverend Dr Featunaí Liuaana, senior pastor, Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (EFKS),
Most Reverend Steve Lowe, Catholic Bishop of Auckland,
Pastors David and Lissie MacGregor, national directors of Vineyard Churches Aotearoa New Zealand,
Pastor Geoff MacPherson, moderator, Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand,
Pastors Joe and Racquel Manase, lead pastors, City Impact Church,
Reverend Andrew Marshall, national director, Alliance Churches of New Zealand,
Pastors Stephen and Susie Miller, Auckland leaders of New Life Churches,
Very Reverend Anne Mills, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral,
Pastor Sam Monk, senior pastor, Equippers Church and ACTS Churches National Leader,
Right Reverend Te Kitohi Pikaahu, Māori Anglican Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau,
Reverend Shona Pink-Martin, missioner, Te Mīhana Māori,
Reverend Dr Colin Marshall, moderator, Northern Presbytery,
Pastors Dean and Fiona Rush, senior leaders, C3 Church Auckland,
Pastor Moses Singh, senior pastor, Indian Christian Life Centre,
Apostle Brian and Pastor Hannah Tamaki, Destiny Churches International,
Reverend Uesifili Unasa, Auckland Synod Superintendent, Methodist Church of New Zealand,
Pastor Adrian Webster, president, North New Zealand Conference, Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Catch up on the debates that dominated the week by signing up to our Opinion newsletter – a weekly round-up of our best commentary.