A Painting of Jesus and Mary by my friend Mark Jennings. You can find all his art (and order copies) at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/mark-jennings.html

Cry Out:
For He has answered!
“He Is Home!”
John 1:1-14

† Jesus, Son, Savior †

May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ help you be at home with God

• Dwelling, Domicile, HOME

Yesterday, I made a comment about how I struggled with the newer translation’s attempt with Gabriel’s greeting to Mary before he announced she was pregnant. More familiar with an older translation, it resonated more deeply with me.

Today the tables are reversed. There is an incredible  difference in my mind between saying Jesus “dwelt” among us, or even more stiffly Jesus lived here, and how our translation does it this morning, where it says He “made His home among us.”

It’s one thing to say he moved onto our street, it’s another to say He made our home, His home.

And the original language supports that, if not even more familial.

That is what Jesus does, that is what He wants, to walk into our homes, our lives, and make His home with us.

Even if a bit awkward, even if embarrassing.

I mean think about it,

God doing your dishes?

And that is where He wants!

God sharing your bathroom? Or something worse…

• Light in Darkness

There is a description in the gospel reading of what life is like before Christ. It is not life, and it is shrouded in complete darkness. The kind that happens when even the stars and the moon are shrouded by a storm, and all the power is out.

This is what sin, the sin of a nation, of a community, of a family and of the individual does – Paul talks of such sin as being a veil, covers our ability to see the glory of God,

Without Jesus being our home, we dwell is the despair of that darkness, without the hope, peace, joy and love that we talked through during Advent.

But John promised that Jesus is the light and life, that He cuts through darkness, that cuts through the despair, not only does He destroys that darkness, He does more—He invites us into the light of the glory of the Father, for where He is, the Father is as well.

For Him to make His home with us in us, is not like he’s staying for a few days as a guest that needs to be served. There are other churches that might talk more about that, I think that we let Him care for us, what He calls us to be and do makes itself manifest.

But He cares for us…

Unfailing love and faithfulness

Last night we talked about His care for as as being driven by His passionate commitment to us, today, John the Apostle describes this as His unfailing love and faithfulness towards us. He is our God, who pours out that love on people, that those willing to receive it, to depend on Him, will have been saved.

We have a God who is so at home in our lives, that He  ”does all the housework” cleaning up for us, feeding us, making sure we are well cared for, even when life seems broken. He is there, He is home with us. His our Lord and God.

This is the work of Jesus Christ, that started way before the manger, it started in creation – a creation with one purpose, to make us the children of God. This is why we are here… this is who we are.

We are His.