Another Christmas Has Passed

The Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is behind, and another year is now yet to come. The question in my mind is still that it has been nearly 2000 years since Jesus’ birth and yet it is possible we do not really fully know or understand why He came. Isaiah 1:3 in the JPS Tanakh reads as follows:

"The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider."

Of course, many claim that they know why He came, and that they know who He was. Some say he was The Messiah, some say He was the Son of God, some say He was the Second Adam, and some say many other things. But, is it possible that the ox and the ass in that manger knew what we still to this day do not know? The German Theologian, Paul Tillich, once said: "Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith." Perhaps, on this journey of faith we are slowly beginning to know, but are yet very far from knowing, although we may think we know. Jeremiah 4:22 in the JPS Tanakh reads as follows:

“For My people is foolish, they know Me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”

The Gospel of Mathew in Chapter 16: 13-17 in the RSV Bible reads as follows:

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do men say that the Son of man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven…’”

Some read the passage, and are convinced they understand; however, others read and ask for understanding. Blessings and a prosperous new year are what I desire for all of you! I also hope that we never stop asking questions with the hope that perhaps one day we will know.

References:

JPS Tanakh

RSV Bible