God Among Us

The fact that Jesus came to earth to “dwell” among us, as John 1: 14 says, is an amazing fact. If we pause and contemplate the reality that among all the religions of the world there has never been such a concept as the deity humbling himself, taking on human flesh and earthly weakness, and deigning to come and live among us that he might save us. The holiness of the almighty God of the universe required that there be a separation between Him and sinful humanity, and yet in order to restore and reconcile man’s relation to God Jesus comes and “dwells” among us.

What adds to the understanding of this word is the Old Testament concept behind it. The word “dwelt” in the Greek actually means to “pitch a tent,” it carries with it an allusion to the Old Testament tabernacle. In the Old Testament this same problem of how man can relate to God existed. There God had called out for himself a people, the nation of Israel, and in so doing continued a unique relationship with a sinful people. How was it, then, that God could dwell among sinful man? In the Old Testament the Tabernacle was set up as a means by which God’s Holy presence could come down and be among the Israelites and not consume them. This tent, as it were, was at the center of Israel’s life and it was here that sacrifice for sin and worship were happened.

In the New Testament Jesus is the new tabernacle, He is the presence of God among man. Jesus is the only true tabernacle today! This is why He has been called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Jesus is very God of very God, and He has come to live among sinful man, to dwell with us, and to rescue us. Jesus is our tabernacle and it is only by means of Him that we can come to God.