Timothy J. Westendorf
The 1990s gifted us with many cultural touchstones, and for those tuned into pop music, Joan Osborne’s “One Of Us” remains unforgettable. Penned by Eric Bazilian, this 1995 hit, later the theme for the television series “Joan of Arcadia,” earned Grammy nominations and a lasting place in our minds. Two decades later, the melody and, more importantly, the lyrics continue to resonate.
The song’s core questions are both simple and deeply complex. If we could pose questions to the divine, what would they be? Bazilian and Osborne captured this universal curiosity with lines that probe the very nature of God:
If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?
The chorus then presents a strikingly human image of the divine:
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin’ to make his way home?
These lyrics aren’t just catchy; they’re thought-provoking. Were they mere commercial aspirations? Satire aimed at religious beliefs? Frustration with the perceived distance of the divine? Or perhaps, a genuine yearning for a God who is both powerful and intimately connected to human experience – a God who understands our pain, our struggles, and our very human journey?
The Universal Longing for a Relatable God
Of these interpretations, the final one strikes a particularly resonant chord. It speaks to a fundamental human desire, one that extends beyond religious boundaries. Whether Christian or not, the longing for a Supreme Being who is simultaneously powerful enough to offer real help and close enough to truly understand our lives is a powerful and universal sentiment.
We yearn for a God who is:
- Powerful: Capable of intervening and offering solutions in our often chaotic world.
- Glorious: Transcending the mundane, offering something greater than earthly achievements.
- Holy: Representing a moral compass rooted in selfless love and higher ideals.
- Good: Intrinsically benevolent, desiring the best for humanity.
- Just: Offering hope for a world where fairness and right prevail.
Yet, this yearning is often intertwined with apprehension. If such a magnificent God exists, what would they make of us, with our flaws and imperfections? Would divine power be used against us? What could we possibly offer in return for such boundless majesty? Our imperfections – our negative thoughts, our petty grievances, our lack of gratitude – seem starkly contrasted against such envisioned perfection.
What humanity truly craves is a God who, while possessing all these awe-inspiring attributes, is also characterized by kindness, compassion, grace, and forgiveness. We long for a divine presence that is:
- Holy, yet not condemning: Acknowledging our imperfections but not rejecting us because of them.
- Great, yet attentive: Vast and powerful, yet still caring for the individual.
- Powerful, yet supportive: Utilizing power on our behalf, not against us.
- Glorious, yet comforting: Using glory to uplift and console, not to overwhelm and intimidate.
The Answer: God Became One of Us
The profound question posed by “What If God Was One Of Us?” is not left unanswered in the realm of faith. The Bible, particularly the Christian scriptures, offers a startling and transformative response: God was and is one of us.
The Gospel of Matthew recounts the story of Joseph, betrothed to Mary, who discovers she is pregnant. An angel appears to Joseph, revealing that Mary’s child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and is the fulfillment of prophecy. The angel quotes Isaiah: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23). Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”
Understanding the concept of Immanuel, meaning “God with us,” through the biblical narrative of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.
“What if God was one of us?” The Christian answer is resounding: He was. He is. The song’s questions find their answers in the person of Jesus Christ.
- If God had a name, what would it be? Jesus, meaning “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
- What if God was just a slob, a stranger? Isaiah 53 describes the Messiah as having “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,” “despised and rejected.” John 1 states, “the world did not recognize him…even though he had created it.”
- If God had a face, what would it look like? A face of compassion, as described in Matthew 9:35-36, with “pure and pitying eyes,” truth-speaking lips, and a resolute determination to fulfill his mission, even in the face of immense difficulty (Isaiah 50:6-7).
This God, eternally divine, entered human history to address the fundamental problems of sin and death. He, perfectly holy, lived amongst sinners yet remained sinless, offering his life as a sacrifice for humanity’s guilt. He, the beloved Son, experienced abandonment to reconcile rebels with the Father, making them beloved siblings in God’s family. He, the Word of God, communicates good news through scripture, sacraments, and the gospel message, reaching hearts through tangible means. He, all-knowing and all-powerful, serves as the mediator, bridging the gap between humanity and divinity through his sacrifice. He, ever-present, though ascended, remains near, hearing and answering our prayers with the empathy of one who intimately understands the human condition.
Visualizing Jesus in a synagogue, embodying the concept of God being present and relatable to humanity through his teachings and actions.
“What if God was one of us?” This is not a hypothetical question. It’s the foundational truth of the Christian faith. The marvel, mystery, and profound meaning of Christmas, and indeed of Christianity, lies in this very reality. We no longer need to wonder “what if.” The answer is Jesus Christ – God who is not distant and detached, but intimately and eternally our brother. Find true joy and lasting peace in Him, the God who became, and remains, one of us.
Timothy Westendorf is pastor at Abiding Word, Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
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This article was originally published in Forward in Christ, Volume 104, Number 12, December 2017. Copyrighted by WELS Forward in Christ © 2021. For reprint permissions, please contact us.
