Our girl arrived home for Christmas last night. Everything feels better when we are all together. Camille headed off to college in Southern California this fall, and we have felt her absence. We missed her laugh, her hugs, and her quiet presence in the house, crafting on a quiet Sunday afternoon. But now she’s home! My heart swells to be able to squeeze her, to wake her up with a kiss on the forehead, to listen to her laugh at my dad jokes. Even in an era where we have technology like Facetime, there is nothing like being face-to-face. I feel joy to worship with her this Christmas Eve and look forward to having our family whole, enjoying cinnamon rolls and coffee in our pajamas on Christmas day, unwrapping one another’s gifts and squeezing each other in thanks.
God concurs.
John explains that the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, so longed to be with us that he gave up the joy of heaven to put on flesh and be with us.
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 bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. [John 1:14-16]
I love that little line John tucks in there, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” How do we receive the grace of God? Through his fullness? And what is God’s fullness? The incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ.
God doesn’t want a second-rate relationship with us. He doesn’t want to keep us at arm’s length, he wants to be with us. I think of one of the most glorious passages in the Bible found in John’s Revelation, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man” (Rev. 21:3). God has always longed to dwell with his image bearers.
This was God’s intention from the start. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden in the cool of the day. God then condescended to establish a relationship with his people. As soon as the covenant between God and Israel is established at Mt. Sinai, what does God do? He has Israel build a tabernacle, literally a “dwelling place,” so that he can be with them. God Almighty was willing to descend to a tent just to be with those he loved.
And then, God so wanted to be with us, that God the Son took on flesh to tabernacle with us. I love Jim Gaffigan’s sketch on camping. Gaffigan teases that there is no such thing as a “happy camper”—why would we give up the conveniences of the modern world to resort to sleeping on the ground in a tent in the wild? How much greater is what Jesus gave up? He willingly and joyfully left the bliss of heaven to come down to earth to dwell with us. How great is his love that he gave up glory to come camp in Bethlehem?
Angel and I dated long-distance through college. I counted down the days before it was Christmas break and I would get to hug my darling. Writing letters and speaking on the phone were a shadow of seeing Angel’s blue eyes and holding her hand.
That is how God thinks about you and Christmas proves his immeasurable sacrifice just so that he could be with you face-to-face.
Now, that’s in tents, don’t you think? ;)
Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash