Welcome to our e-devotions for the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa's Month of Mission 2019!
This year we are looking at chapter 4 from Paul's letter to the Ephesians in which he describes the church, its mission, how it is provided for and how it functions.
As you read Ephesians 4 you will see that before Paul talks about the church, he speaks about the Founder of the Church: Jesus Christ who he describes as the "One who ascended and must therefore have descended."
It is this "descending" that we will consider in this first week of our e-devotions...
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Pitched His Tent
John 1 is like the Overture at the start of a theatrical musical. An overture is the introduction and sets the stage and mood, but it also gives one some sense of the main moments of the story.
John's prologue in ch.1 does this magnificently.
Here are some highlights from the chapter as a whole:
- He opens with "In the beginning was the Word..." and we are taken all the way back to Genesis 1.
- We are reminded of John the Baptist who is Jesus' forerunner and gives the gospel story historical credibility. John the Baptist is also the one who reveals God's agenda for us - to be witnesses of the light.
- Jesus is introduced as the Light of the world, the God-revealer and the very life of humankind.
- He is the "un-understood" and "unrecognised" Messiah who was rejected by a corrupt and blind religious system.
- He transforms people bringing them from death to life - to being born of God.
But I want to concentrate on our verses for the day:
John has already told us that Jesus is the Word who is with God and is God. He has told us that Jesus is the light and life of humanity. But there's a twist to this majestic tale: The Son of God, magnificent and mighty, humbles Himself to become flesh - to enter Mary's womb, to be a "holy embryo", to dwell among us.
Eugene Peterson translates this thought as "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood." The Greek Word used for "made His dwelling" is the word that was used to describe the building of shelters during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. It could be translated as "pitched His tent" or "set up camp" in our immediate vicinity.
One would think that moving into the neighbourhood would lower Him to our standards - that'd He'd be cheapened by His connection with us. But this is not the case: John declares that the "divine self-lowering" of Jesus actually exalts Him.
And here's why: Where Adam and Eve grabbed for more power, Jesus chose to obey God even if it meant humbling Himself and having less power. Jesus obeyed His Father and, for our sake, He gave His life.
Jesus deity is recognised by John, not only because of His divine identity, but also because of His sacrifice.
But don't take my word for it... Read it as John said it! And then give thanks to our God and Saviour who moved into your neighbourhood and mine. (You can also read the Ephesians passage that is our basis for the whole month...)
| The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (John 1:14-18) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: |
(Theo Groeneveld is married to Brenda, is dad to Caleb (19) and foster father to a long list of abandoned kittens that they have re-homed over the years. He has served Emmanuel Presby Church in Garsfontein Pretoria since 1997 and is the convener of the General Assembly Mission and Discipleship Committee. He enjoys cycling and tech stuff.)
