Our God Tabernacles Among Us

John 1:14-18

A simple definition of Christmas is that it is Christ's mass which celebrates the coming of Jesus to earth. However, I the book of John, the author gives a more fundamental definition of what Christmas is. John tells us that Jesus is a tabernacle among us. The word became flesh and dwelt 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 1:14 ESV 

In Exodus, we read of another time when God came to dwell among the Israelites. God gave specific instructions to build a place for God to be with the Children of Israel. 

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 

Exodus 40:34 ESV 

The reason that God decided to dwell among the Israelites was not because of their obedience. In Exodus chapters 32 and 33, we read how the Israelites made a golden calf to worship while Moses stayed on top of Mt. Sinai with God. God was angry that His people had violated the statues which He had given them. In fact, God was so angry, he had planned to destroy His people, but then He chooses to dwell among His people and spare them. The children of Israel felt guilty and realized that they could not survive without God. When God does come, He stays with them throughout all their journeys to the promised land. 

For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. 

Exodus 40:38 ESV 

We celebrate Christmas because we understand that God has come to dwell with us to save us from our sins. God emptied himself to become a nobody, so we could be saved. 

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 1:16-18 ESV 

God knew that His people wanted to see a physical God. This is the reason the Israelites insisted on the golden calf, which was something they could see, touch and, unfortunately, put their trust in. They grew impatient with an unseen god who spoke only to Moses, who was not always with them. 

When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 

Exodus 32:1 ESV 

God understood that He needed to come to His people in a manner that the Children of Israel could understand. The tabernacle could be understood by the Children of Israel. God was able to give them a sense of direction, but the Israelites still had to follow God. 

Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 

Exodus 40:36-37 ESV 

This guidance gave security to the Children of Israel. They did not have to worry if they followed the cloud. They were going through a hostile wilderness that was real. We, too, need to put our trust in God despite what our circumstances tell us. 

Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. 

Isaiah 3:10 ESV 

Jesus came to bring us a life full of glory to the Lord. Jesus came to be our personal God. 

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 

John 1:11-12 ESV 

If we can internalize that knowledge, we could have the peace that Jesus offers us. Jesus presence also allows us to acknowledge that we are undeserving, yet Jesus still loves us and wants us saved. 

John invites us to reflect on the great miracle of Jesus giving us the right to be children of God although we do not deserve this gift. We should be intentionally with our reflection of what God has done for us. Not only does God dwell with us to give a sense of direction and safety, but God has also pitched His tent with us forever. All that God desires is that we be grateful for this precious gift.