And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14
While the LORD was leading Israel to the Promised Land, his glorious presence dwelt with them in the tabernacle. That history is vital to understanding the shocking revelation we celebrate at Christmas. In Jesus, God “dwelt” (the Greek word literally means “tabernacled”) among us, revealing God’s glory and grace. John’s gospel doesn’t record the story of Jesus’s birth. There’s no Mary or Joseph, no nativity or manger, but it still teaches us a lot about Christmas. In the incarnation of Jesus, eternal divinity is united to humanity. Though he is equal to, yet distinct from the Father, the Son emptied himself by assuming a human nature. Jesus came as a second Adam, this time from above.
Ever since Adam and Eve were exiled from his presence, the LORD began to unfold his eternal plan to display his redemptive love for his people. He would have been justified in leaving us all in the judgment of our sin. Yet in his infinitely wise compassion, he entered into our misery to absorb the curse of our sin and to bring healing. As true God and true man, Christ the Redeemer can bring us back to God. He is himself our Substitute and Savior.
That the Son of God should become man pushes the mind to its limit. Take a moment right now to ponder in your heart what this means for you. Are you bruised and broken by Adam’s fall? Then praise the LORD: Jesus is the full and holy cure for all that ails you.