December 27
John 1.14
14 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.
One of the phrases I try to avoid using is, “I know how you feel.” I don’t know how another feels, or really understand the experience of another. I may have had similar experiences. Understanding what it is like for someone close to me dying. But dealing with the death of one close to me does not mean I understand your grief. I just hope it means I understand my own grief. We have things that are similar, but not really the same. It would mean having to be the other to understand another person.
John tells us that the Word became flesh. God comes to us as Immanuel, God with us, in the person of Jesus. Not to be similar to us, but to be one of us. To experience the life we have lived. The writer of Hebrews expands on this idea for us:
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
This is the gracious gift of God to us at Christmas, and every day. He is with us and has come as one with us so that we can fully receive his forgiveness and grace. God is with us, he knows us and understands us. We belong to God, and with God, as he has made his place with us.
Song – I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Prayer
Almighty God, you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. In your mercy, by the power of the Holy Spirit, grant that we may share the divine life of Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to share our humanity and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.