Epilogue

Today’s scripture: John 1:14 (NIV) 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.

God's gift to the world was his one and only son, Jesus. He sent him so that he could know life on this earth. He was tempted in every way, the Bible says, yet he did not sin. He experienced what we see, feel, hear and taste every day. He had to. He couldn’t die for our sins unless he knew what it felt like to live as we do and face what we face. Yet, he was still perfect.

Jesus rested in Mary’s womb for nine months. He was born with two eyes, two ears, a nose and a mouth, two arms and two legs. When he came out, he cried when he was hungry. He suckled his mother’s breast. He pooped and he peed. He wore diapers (cloth, not Pampers). He would have fallen and skinned his knee and gone to cry in his mother’s arms. He would have played with other children. He would have fought with his brother, but when James hit him, Jesus did not retaliate. He may have had innocent crushes on neighbor girls. He was raised in a simple blue-collar home. We assume Joseph died sometime between Jesus being age 12 and 30, though it can’t be verified by scripture.

When he got older, he would have experienced hardship. He would have been hungry at some point. He wouldn’t have had chairs to build every day of his adult life as a simple carpenter in the sleepy town of Nazareth. He had friends as an adult. He went to temple on the Sabbath. After he started ministry, he felt shame and betrayal when his family became embarrassed by him and abandoned him. He felt disillusionment and sorrow. He felt agonizing physical pain on the cross. He had to work at being friends with John, Peter and James, and the other disciples. He never gossiped or whined.

But he was different. Though he was man, he was still God. We are called God’s “children” and “sons of God,” while Jesus was called one with the father. John 1:1 says that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” By doing so, he was the perfect teacher, the perfect example, the perfect sacrifice. Those who saw him and spent time with him were captivated by him. He was simply amazing. It’s up to you whether or not you get to know him.

Today’s prayer: Thank you Father, for sending your son to experience life on earth. Thank you for letting him feel and see and hear and speak. Thank you for giving him a mother and father who loved him and raised him right. Thank you for your gift of life. Amen.