Emmanuel, God With Us
God Came to Us
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV)
Break It Down
John does not begin the Christmas story with shepherds or angels or a manger. He begins with eternity.
“The Word” is not a new character entering the story. The Word already was. The eternal Son, present at creation, through whom all things were made, became flesh.
God did not send a message or a substitute. He came Himself.
To say He “made his dwelling among us” is to say He pitched His tent with humanity. God moved into the neighbourhood. He chose closeness with us over separation.
God’s Intention
From the beginning, God’s desire has been relationship.
The fall as recorded in Genesis, fractured that relationship. Sin created separation between humanity and a Holy God. We could not climb our way back to Him.
So God came to us.
He did not come to condemn us, but to restore, to redeem. To dwell with His people.
Christmas is the fulfilment of God’s eternal intention.
Weave in the Passage
Picture the scene.
A boy child is now lying on the straw in the manger. Wrapped in cloths. Held by a young mother. Watched over by a carpenter from the line of David.
Nothing about this scene suggests power.
And yet, this child is the Word made flesh. The eternal Son of God, now visible to us in human form. Grace and truth, breathing, crying, growing.
The shepherds arrive, telling of their experience with the angels and the good news spoken on the hillside. Mary treasures these things in her heart. Joseph stands in quiet obedience.
The child heaven announced is now lying there before them. Imagine!
God is no longer speaking only through prophets. He is speaking through His Son.
All of Scripture converges here.
What God had spoken through His prophets for centuries is now fulfilled in this child.
Genesis 3:15 — the first promise of a coming deliverer
Isaiah 7:14 — God with us foretold
Isaiah 9:6 — a child, a son, a ruler
Micah 5:2 — Bethlehem named long before
Luke 2:11 — the Savior announced
The baby in the manger is the fulfilment of every promise God made. And He is now held in human hands.
Application for Today
Christmas reminds us of a simple and astonishing truth. We did not find our way back to God. God came to us.
He entered our world. He took on flesh and He walked among us.
This gift was given for you. The manger tells us that God is not afraid of our mess, our weakness, or our need. He comes near, even still. That we might believe.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for coming to us.
Thank You that You did not remain distant, but entered our world in love. Thank You for Jesus, Your one and only Son, full of grace and truth.
Help me to receive this gift afresh today. To live in the light of Your nearness. And to walk again in restored relationship with You.
Amen.
Reflection
What does it mean for me personally that God came to us?
Where do I need to receive His grace and truth this Christmas?
How might my life change if I truly lived as one who knows God is near?