The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. (John 1:14)

Many people spend their vacations or holidays camping out. There are various ways of camping out. Some folks carry a trailer, a tent and other equipment with them and “rough it.” Others choose a more convenient way of traveling and live in a camper or recreational vehicle. Still others spend their time off the road in the comparative luxury of motels and hotels.

The Son of God, so to speak, camped out too. From all eternity His permanent home was in heaven. This home He left and lived on earth for 33 years. He traveled extensively throughout “the Holy Land.” His places of abode were temporary. He was born in Bethlehem, lived for a time in Egypt, grew up in Nazareth, journeyed up and down Palestine and beyond, was crucified at Jerusalem, and was buried in another man’s tomb. The foxes had holes and the birds of the air had nests, but He had no permanent place to rest His head. He “camped out.”

All this is implied when Saint John writes that God’s Son, born of Mary, the Word-made-flesh, “made His dwelling among us.” The Greek verb means to lodge temporarily, to live in a tent, as Abraham did, and as the Children of Israel did while they were enroute to the Promised Land, worshiping God not in a firm temple but in a moveable tabernacle.

The Son of God became flesh and blood “so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). It is well for us that God’s Son “tented” among us!

PRAYER: Eternal Father, accept our heartfelt thanks for sending Your Son to dwell among us and to redeem us. Amen.

(Taken from “Our Journey with Jesus” (out of print), copyright 1976, International Lutheran Laymen’s League.)

Today's Bible Readings: Jonah 1-4    Acts 15:1-21

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