Saturday's Devotion

Advent Conspiracy Daily Devotion
Saturday, December 6, 2008
by Pastor Scott Keeble

We’re all pretty familiar with the story of Christ’s birth told in the gospel of Matthew and with a few nuances, in the gospel of Luke. It is a beautiful narrative, full of drama and imagery and meaning.

But have you ever thought about John chapter 1 as another telling of Christ’s birth?
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

In the Message, Eugene Peterson retells the first part of that verse this way:
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

Christmas is the story of Jesus moving into the neighborhood. Imagine if that were true today. Imagine if Jesus moved into your neighborhood. Imagine pulling into your driveway after a long day at work where nothing went right and there’s Jesus walking out to his mailbox. You know he had a long day of miracles and parable telling, but he smiles at you and somehow you know that there’s nothing he’d rather do at that moment than sit down over a cup of (insert favorite drink here) and hear about your day.

Guess what? Jesus still dwells in the neighborhood. Towards the end of his gospel, John records these words of Jesus to his disciples: “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” As the Father sent Jesus (to move into the neighborhood,) so Jesus sends us (to move into the neighborhood).

In many ways, the Christmas story is not just the story of Christ’s birth, it’s also our story. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are the presence of Christ to our neighbor, and to one another. We are the body of Christ, who moved into the neighborhood to be with us.

May this Advent season bring to you opportunities to give away the limitless love of Jesus Christ to your neighbor.