So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. – John 1:14
On a popular reality TV show, owners or CEOs from large companies disguise themselves as regular men or women and spend time working at different roles in the companies they run.
During this time, they meet employees and hear their life stories, witness their hard work and their frustrations firsthand, and ultimately learn how they could improve their company. At the end of each episode, the bosses reveal their identities to the employees with whom they’d worked, much to the surprise of those workers.
Then, they give employees promotions or special financial rewards to show they care for them and want to help their situation, often resulting in many tears of joy.
Advent is a time to remember that God did something similar for humanity when He came to earth.
John 1:14 tells us that the Word, Jesus Christ, made His dwelling among us – He literally “pitched His tent” with us. He experienced the struggles, heartache, and pain that each one of us goes through in life. And in Him we are shown the fullness of God’s glory.
Of course, Jesus wasn’t undercover at all. He told His followers and anyone who listened exactly who He was. And God already knew what was needed to fix what we had broken – the perfect sacrifice of Jesus’ death on the cross on our behalf.
The gift He gave us was so much greater than a bonus or promotion because through Him we are adopted into the family of God as God’s children. There is no greater gift than that.
Prayer Challenge
Give thanks to God today for taking on human form and living among us, and for the blessing of being part of God’s family because of what Jesus did.
Questions for Thought
1. What is the greatest gift or bonus you’ve ever received from an employer? How did it make you feel?
2. Why is it so significant that God became flesh and lived on this earth with us?