Christmas. Christmas sparks many different memories, traditions and celebrations in the minds of us all.
Whether you choose to celebrate or not, the commercialization of this popular holiday sparks a wonder from young to old. The lights, the music, the countless gathering of friends and family. It’s a time where you can find yourself wandering just to find and hold some sort of magic, a little light to open your eyes, a little joy even if for a brief moment. But there is something even greater we long to behold and cling to: hope.
We hold our loved ones close. We ache of grief when seats are empty, presents unopened and minds seem absent.
By nature, humans were created for intimate relationship. I think that’s what makes Christmas and any other major holiday so special. The memories made, the traditions observed and the food consumed is shared alongside others. If you’re from North America, you’re likely to have Christmas cards with family pictures etched all over your refrigerator from the past year. Christmas parties are held in school classrooms, business offices and countless homes all over the world.
We long to be with those we love the most, yet pause to remember the One who came down from Heaven to be with man.
Not only did God send His only Son to dwell with man, but He sent His Son to reconcile a holy relationship that had been broken and tainted by sin.
This is Emmanuel. This is Christmas. This is God with us, the hope for the world.
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
A quick word study of John’s use of the word “dwell” means to “pitch a tent”, and if that translation isn’t visual enough, another says, “tabernacle”. These two translations are quite significant words knowing the history leading up to the dwelling of God’s glory in His Son. The word “Emmanuel” means “God with us”. It’s a word that I rarely hear outside the Christmas season. Studying the history behind and the implications for God choosing to send His Son to dwell with man has led me to share.
Starting in Genesis, we notice God dwelt with man before sin entered the world. (Genesis 1-2) He created man in His image, image bearers to reflect His glory. (Genesis 1:27). God walked with man. There was a relationship, an intimacy. However, it wasn’t long before this sweet, holy relationship between God and man was divided. Sin entered the world (Genesis 3) and broke the relationship. What was an open relationship, shame told to hide in secret. Man’s nakedness had to be covered because of sin. The covering of sin before a holy God would require the killing of an animal, foreshadowing sacrifice after sacrifice until the Ultimate Sacrifice would be offered once and for all. This intimate relationship with man was going to be restored.
Fast forward to Exodus and God’s servant Moses. God’s glory came down to Moses and the Israelites on Mnt. Sinai. The Israelites were told to not even touch the mountain lest they be killed. That’s how holy God’s glory was dwelt upon the mountain. He came down on the mountain in fire and the people trembled. (Exodus 19). Moses was the only one called to go up to the mountain to receive the covenant and law from God. You can follow the detailed events in Exodus 19-24.
God gave Moses the requirements for Him to dwell in their midst. He and the appointed Israelites were to construct a portable tabernacle, a tent, a sanctuary for the Holy of Holies to dwell. I won’t go into the intricate details of this tabernacle, but it is worth studying. I find it significant that the Israelites were to carry this tabernacle with them. It reveals God’s heart to go before and beside His people.
It’s easy to skip over Exodus 25-32 as the details for the tabernacle are repetitive and monotonous. However, looking through the lens of the book of John in the New Testament, there are amazing parallels. The descriptions for the bread, the lamps, and even the entrance doors all point to what was to come. Reflecting on the “I am” statements Jesus declared about Himself, we see that:
He is the Bread of Life (Ex. 25:30, John 6:35)
He is the Light of the world (Ex. 27:20-21, John 8:12)
He is the door (Ex. 26:36-37, John 10:9)
He is the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for the sheep (Ex. 29:10-14, John 10:11)
I found a great resource linked here if you are interested to read more about these parallels.
This tabernacle was temporary. God had not yet completely reconciled His relationship with man. Priests were appointed to offer sacrifices for sin, the shedding of animal blood cleansed the people and once a year, a High priest would enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices for the sin of the nation of Israel for generations. Generations where the sins were great as Israel would stray away from their God again and again and again. God placed his Spirit upon many prophets and even kings who would try to lead Israel back to the mercy and loving kindness of God.
The Israelites would bring the tabernacle with them through their wilderness wandering and all the way to the Promised Land. It would stay in Gilgal for seven years before it was moved to Shiloh (Joshua 18:1). However, the people in Shiloh became idolatrous and wicked, serving other gods and neglecting the one true God.
Bible scholars do not know what became of the tabernacle as this city was destroyed. However, Scripture tells us that David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and it would be placed in the temple that his son, Solomon would build.
Solomon’s temple is also quite significant. Here, the Israelites would have a visual representation, a physical place to remember God was with the and desired for them to follow His ways with a pure heart. God told Solomon that if he the people obeyed God’s commands, they’d receive his blessings, but if they turned away to serve other gods, the they would face punishment and captivity. (1 Kings 9:1-9)
Unfortunately this occurred sooner than later. Built in the mid 10th century BC, Solomon’s temple was destroyed and the Israelites were taken into captivity by the Babylonians in 586 BC.
There’s this pattern in the Old Testament where God draws man to Himself though His mercy and lovingkindness, but man rejects God to serve other gods, mainly the god of self, of power and control.
It’s what happened in the Garden, it’s what happened to the Israelites, God’s chosen people, generation after generation. But here’s what we have to catch in this pattern: God’s mercy triumphs over man’s sin. He always offers His grace and truth.
“And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth,” Exodus 34:6
The temple would be rebuilt and it is this second temple that Jesus, in human form, would be dedicated as a babe. He would sit under teachers as a youth in this temple, drive out and cleanse this temple from religion as He began His earthly ministry and declare it a house of prayer for all nations to come. This was where Jesus revealed Himself to be the temple that would be destroyed but raised again in three days.
He would usher in a new and better covenant between God and man. A covenant that ultimately restored the relationship that had been tarnished in the garden.
He willingly laid down His body, a temple, to be destroyed and killed. The veil was torn in two from top to bottom. A Father and Son relationship that had always been was temporarily broken for the sins of the world. The Father turned his face away from the Son as He could not look upon sin. The blood poured, cleansing sin after sin. His lifeless body was buried. But three days later, the body, the temple, walked out of the grave that had been sealed tight by a stone.
He is the chief Cornerstone, the layer of a new foundation. He now calls man a “royal priesthood, a holy nation”. We have a sure hope, what we are really looking for in this holiday season and every season of life on this earth.
He is God with us. For those who believe and call on His name, He places His own Spirit inside of us to dwell, to live, to “pitch a tent”.
As I pause to remember the significance of God sending His own Son to dwell with man, I’m reminded that not only do we behold His glory, but we HOLD His glory. We no longer have need for a tent, a tabernacle, a temple sanctuary because we are His temple. We hold His glory. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
I don’t know what you may be thinking or feeling this Christmas season. Maybe you don’t even celebrate Christmas and that’s okay.
God wants you to know that He sent His only Son to dwell with you.
You are not made to walk this life alone.
Man was created from the beginning to have fellowship with his Creator.
Christmas reminds us that God reconciled this fellowship by sending His son down in the form of human flesh.
It’s wonderful news as the Shepherds and Wisemen were told. Yet, notice there was a response. They heard the good news reported by the angel, beheld the glory of a star and did something about it. They left, they traveled, they CAME to this Jesus.
Christmas calls us to come. Come and sit with the One who dwells with man.
Maybe there aren’t many people for you to sit with this Christmas. Perhaps you are grieving for the ones you won’t ever sit with again this side of Heaven. He still calls you to come as you are, grief and all. Behold His glory and know that you have access to it.
“Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
Grade and truth. That’s what we behold and cling to. Today and forevermore.
Merry Christmas.
abundantlyenoughblog 