And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:14
The Word “dwelt among us” echoes the Old Testament imagery of God tabernacling with His people. The glory once associated with the tabernacle and the temple is now visible in a Person. Yet this glory is not marked by spectacle or domination, but by “grace and truth.” Light shines in darkness by revealing God’s faithful presence within it. Christmas is not an escape from the world’s brokenness, but the assurance that God has entered it and that His glory is now known through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, eternal Word made flesh, thank You for coming near and dwelling among us. When I am tempted to look for glory in power or comfort, help me to see it in Your grace and truth. Teach me to trust Your presence in the midst of my own darkness. Amen.
Meditation
What does it mean for me to believe that God’s glory is revealed not in distance or escape, but in Christ’s presence within the brokenness of this world?