December 1: Incredible
♫ Music:
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. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-3, John 1:14
INCREDIBLE
This icon of Christ Pantokrator (Christ the All-Sovereign), probably from the sixth century, is one of the oldest in existence. It was found at the Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai, covered in layers of later paint. Whether by design or accident the location and covering preserved it from destruction whereas almost all icons from this period are lost to us. It neatly captures the dual nature of Christ, both God and human.
The incarnation is one of the central mysteries of our faith. "Incredible" wrote Blaise Pascal, "that God should become human." Incredible indeed. In Jesus God assumed particularity. Although being in nature God, Jesus emptied himself and became human. Paul described Jesus as the second Adam, Adam as he should have been. He is fully human, ideally human. Subject to the same temptations, says the author of Hebrews, but focused upon the will of God where Adam wavered. Jesus modeled subjugation of human inclination and human desire to the divine will. He set his face toward Jerusalem. "Not my will, but yours be done" he said. "Don't you know that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but they are the Father in me, doing his work." At a particularly tense moment in John's Gospel he said, "I do only what I see my Father doing." The use of the present tense is striking. Jesus as human, Adam as he should have been, is in constant connection with his Father in heaven.
And yet for Paul and indeed all the New Testament writers the Jesus they knew and who walked among us was also fully God. The artist has masterfully captured both natures. There is in the magnificent face an affect of aloofness and timelessness, and so the artist conveys the divine nature. And yet the artist is also able to blend naturalistic features and so to convey the humanity of Christ. The artist reminds us that in his teaching Jesus was true so much that he was able to express himself as truth; that in his model of faithfulness to the will of God the good is embodied, and that true beauty is deeper than mere outward appearance.
The incarnation reminds us of the incredible love of God for us. It reveals the tenderness of God by which we are showered. And it reminds us of the richness of relationship with God open to us, if only we will set our face in God's direction.
David Nystrom, Provost and Senior Vice-President
LORD GOD, you defy tidy categories for understanding you, especially at Christmas. What a paradox the incarnation is—true God and authentic humanity knit into one person, your Son, Jesus Christ. I worship you for this marvelous mystery—as true God you conquered death by your power, and as a real human you died for me in the weakness of your flesh. Amen
Phillip Reinders from Seeking God’s Face
Christ Pantocrator, 6th Century
Anonymous,
Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mt. Sinai, Egypt
About the Art and Artist
Christ Pantocrator is one of the oldest surviving icons of Christ, dating from the early 6th century. It is found in the treasure house at St. Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai, Egypt. In the icon, Christ is robed in a purple tunic, a color signifying royalty. He is holding a copy of the Gospels in his left hand while his right hand is raised in blessing. The icon depicts Christ as both Ruler of all (our Judge) and Savior of the world (our Salvation). The right side of his face (from the viewer's perspective), shows Christ as the Judge who sees all, while the left side depicts Him as the Savior who looks upon us with mercy.
About the Musicians
The King’s Men are a six member, vocal a cappella ensemble from the Conservatory of Music at Biola University. Their director, Walt Harrah, arranges the music they sing. They represent the university in concerts throughout Southern California and beyond.
About the Music
O Come, O Come Emmanuel is the mid-19th century translation by John Mason Neale and Henry Sloane Coffin of the Latin text "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" which dates from the 8th century. The text is based on the biblical prophecy from Isaiah 7:14.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Lyrics
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God come near
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is an ancient chant based on the text of Habakkuk 2:20, "Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” It was composed in Greek as a Cherubic Hymn for worship in the fourth century AD, with local churches adopting arrangements in Syriac. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ (1872-1958) arrangement of a translation from the Greek to the tune of Picardy, a French medieval folk melody, popularized the hymn among Christian congregations.
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Lyrics:
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.
Hosanna, Hosanna (4X)
At his feet the six-winged seraph,
Cherubim, with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord Most High:
Alleluia, Lord Most High!