Jesus' Divinity and Humanity: A Theological Debate

As we ponder the question of whether Jesus was "dawned," we find ourselves at the threshold of a profound exploration of the nature of our Lord and Savior. The concept of "dawning" implies a gradual emergence or appearance, much like the breaking of day. In Scripture, we find that Jesus is indeed often associated with light and the dawn, as seen in Luke 1:78-79, where Zechariah prophesies that the "dayspring from on high" will visit us, "to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." This imagery is rooted in the Old Testament, where the psalmist declares, "We have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth" (Psalm 89:15, John 1:14).

However, when we consider the person of Jesus, we must be careful not to imply that He gradually came into being or emerged as a divine being. Rather, as the eternal Son of God, Jesus has always existed, coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:3). His incarnation, where He took on human flesh, was a voluntary act of condescension, wherein He "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7). This is not a "dawning" of His divinity, but rather a gracious revelation of His preexisting glory, now veiled in human form.

In this sense, Jesus is not "dawned" as if He were a emerging reality, but rather, He is the One who shines forth as the radiant light of God, dispelling the darkness of sin and ignorance (2 Corinthians 4:6). As the "true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9), Jesus illuminates the path of salvation, guiding us through the darkness of this world into the eternal light of His presence. Thus, we behold the glory of Jesus, not as a gradual emergence, but as the resplendent radiance of the eternal Son, who has always been, and will forever be, the very essence of divine light and life.