Jesus Declares Himself Pre-eternal
Jesus Declares Himself Pre-eternal:
The fact that Jesus declared himself Pre-eternal has bewildered the Jews and the greatest teachers among them. How could He be born in Bethlehem and say: “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
This is why the Church chants:
“That which was hidden from eternity even to the angels, a mystery unknown, through you, Theotokos, is revealed to those on earth: God incarnate by union without confusion.
Who even voluntarily accepted the Cross for us, by which, resurrecting the first-created, He saved our souls from death.”
This chant to the Mother of God (Theotokion) says “through you Thotokos is revealed to those on earth. God was revealed as human on earth. The feast of the Annunciation is the divine Incarnation, while the feast of Nativity is when God was manifested on earth.
This is exactly expressed in chapter 1 of the Gospel of John:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, Full of grace and truth” (John 1: 14).
Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles went preaching thus:
- “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1Timothy 3:16).
- “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith” (Romans 16:25-26).
- “And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ” (Ephesus3:9).
- “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints” (Colossians 1:26).
Thanks be to Thee O Lord, Thou Who was incarnate to save us, and did not accept to keep us away.