One of Us
The songwriter was Eric Bazilian, but it gained a worldwide audience when it was recorded and released in 1995 by Joan Osborne. It became the theme for the short-lived TV show "Joan of Arcadia." It was a lilting melody reminiscent of the folk songs of the 1960s. At a time when heavy metal and rap genres dominated the music scene, this song captured imaginations of millions. "What If God Were One of Us?"
Each time I heard it, my imagination took me back in time to a cool, dry Palestinian night and the noise of shepherds running through the streets of a little town called Bethlehem. These unruly men seemed unconcerned about the slumbering residents or the hundreds of pilgrims who had filled the local inns and lodges. They were talking loudly about angels and mangers, calling to one another as they searched through the town for a stable. Suddenly, the shouting stopped. An awe struck silence as they gazed upon the young mother and her newborn Son. Their celebration turned to worship of the One about Whom the angels had said, "This day, in the city of David, a Savior is born for you . . . " They knew this night that they were standiong before the Creator of all things. These men, who were uneducated, considered ceremonially unclean and socially outcast, were among the first to hear the good news. God had become One of us. 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah, at God's instruction, wrote, "And the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a Son, and she will call His name Immanu-El." According to the Matthew 1:23, Immanu-el literally means 'God with us."
What if God was One of us? Well, He was! In the person of Jesus Christ, God the Son showed us how to live a life that pleases God the Father. In the person of Jesus Christ, God the Son gave His life as payment for the sins of all who would trust Him. His death plus our faith would reconcile even the most vile to God. In the person of Jesus Christ, God the Son was raised from the dead to provide all who trust Him with the guarantee of eternal life. In the person of Jesus Christ, God the Son entrusted those of us who trust Him to carry on His ministry of reconciliation in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The answer to the question, "What if God were One of us?" is that He was! And perhaps the most wonderful thing is that He is still with us, for He promised that He would always be with us, even to the end of the ages. This Christmas season, if you have not yet surrendered your life to the God Who loved you enough to give Himself for you, trust Him now. It's not difficult. Simply admit that you have sinned, failed to be what God wants you to be. Believe that He will forgive you and receive you as His child. Confess Him as Lord by living according to His word. And may this Christmas season provide you with abundant opportunities to see Jesus more clearly.
