May 16, 2013 - John 1:14

            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 1:14

            The Word became “flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood,” as Eugene Peterson stated in The Message.  Clarence Jordan, the author of The Cotton Patch Gospel and the founder of Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia, translated this verse by saying that the Word “moved into the trailer-park.”  God didn’t just show up in a place of honor and prestige, like earthly kings.  He arrived in utter poverty, and was born to a young teenage girl and her struggling husband.  Jesus was born in an animal stable, and His first crib was a feeding trough.  From the very beginning, Jesus could identify with any and all people, no matter their situation in life.  Jesus moved into humanity’s trailer-park, mess and all!

            Jesus moved in and “made His dwelling among us.”  That isn’t just for those people way back 2000 years ago.  It also means that Jesus moved in with you and me.  He moved into our neighborhood.  He identified and experienced life situations similar to those we go through.  The Scriptures say that Jesus was tempted, just like us, yet He didn’t sin.  And He comes to reside with us – with you and me.  How does He do this?  He does this through the Holy Spirit, who came so that each of us could experience the presence of Jesus being with us wherever we go and in whatever we do.  If we allow Him, Jesus will make His dwelling within our hearts.

            Questions to consider: Has Jesus moved into your neighborhood?  If so, how is that working for you?  If not, what’s holding you back from allowing Him to move in?  How has it helped you to have Jesus in your neighborhood?

            Prayer: Father, thank You for agreeing to send Jesus, Your Son, to move into my trailer-park.  Please help me to make it into a more welcoming, loving community.  Amen.