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The Baby Jesus in a Manger Was God and King ALEMAYEHU MEKONNEN, PHD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MISSIONS and Cain, many people and live in this have made Since Abel gospelshistory.aBut whatareofbornthe birthI of Jesusworld. Some life, andwasan incredible impact on human makes Christ, His His significance unique? The assert number things, but focus on this: Jesus Christ God and He reigns over mankind as a ruler of the world. "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH A CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL, WHICH IS TRANSLATED 'GOD WITH US.'" (MATT. 1:23, NKJV) The eternal, unchangeable, holy, righteous, and merciful God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1). "He is the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15). "In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col. 1:19). He is one substance with God, begotten, not created, God of God, light of light, etc., as the Nicene Creed says. We see God coming to this world in human form to seek the lost and to restore the fallen creation into what it should be and rule it in peace forever. As Paul stated, "Without question, this is the great mystery of faith: Christ was revealed in a human body..." (1 Tim. 2:16). So, as we reflect on Christmas, we need to think of the loving and merciful God who chose to share our humanity without having our sinful nature. Through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God has demonstrated that He is relational. To this the apostle John attests saying: "We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life" (1 John 1:1). If we don't have the intimate spiritual relationship with God and share the experiences and expressions of John, then, we really do not get the whole meaning of Christmas. As I said, the coming of Christ to this world is not limited to the salvation of our soul and heavenly bliss somewhere. He will abolish war, injustice, pain and suffering, economic inequality and exploitation, and He will rule the world in righteousness and peace. "To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13b-14). "He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new'" (Rev. 21:5). This end is a part of the beginning, which is Christmas. DENVER SEMINARY CHRISTMAS 2013 16 DECEMBER 21