John 1:1-5, 14, Exodus 25 to 30

Jeff Cutts considers Jesus coming and camping among us

Jeff Cutts

Christmas is near and there are many familiar Bible passages that are quoted often in carol services, nativities and seasonal meetings of God's people. One of my favourites about the entrance of Jesus into the world is John 1:14, 'the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness...'

A little study shows us that the original Greek language gives the meaning that He "tabernacled" among us. Tabernacle is an old word and one we don't use daily, but the verse is saying Jesus literally built His tent and camped among us.

I love this thought that God came and camped on earth in the person of Jesus. I have experience of camping. I also have experience of staying in a nice hotel with a spa and the most amazing choice of breakfast. How amazing that the Word gave life to everything that was created, but moved from Five Star Heavenly accommodation to come and camp with us!

Reflect on 'tabernacle' a bit more. In the Old Testament God's people were familiar with camping, and for a time between the Exodus from Egypt and the building of the first temple the Tabernacle was a place of worship; its plans were laid out by God and given to Moses who was told to build it 'according to the pattern'. Hang on to that thought.

The Tabernacle was a tent with a courtyard around it and various pieces of furniture and worship hardware. Outside the tent were an altar for offering sacrifices and a big wash basin. Inside, in what was called the Holy Place was a gold lamp stand, a wooden table covered in gold which held loaves of bread, and another altar for burning incense. There was a thick curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place - or Holy of Holies. Behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden box covered in gold on top of which was a gold lid called the Mercy Seat.

It was important that this was all built together according to the pattern or plan that God had laid out because all of it is a picture of Jesus. You can look into this in much more detail, but just think quickly of these things we've already mentioned and see Jesus in them:

The altar in the courtyard was to offer sacrifices to God, and Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice, once and for all time so that no other sacrifice is needed. The wash basin was for washing, we are washed clean as we put our trust in Jesus, and being baptised in water signifies this.

Come into the Holy Place and think about the lamp stand, Jesus said 'I am the Light of the world' (John 8:12). So the lamp in the tabernacle points towards Jesus, 'The Word gave life to everything that was created and His life brought light to everyone'. 'I am the Bread of Life,' Jesus said, so you can see Him in the table of bread in the Holy Place. The altar of incense filled the tabernacle with a sweet smell. The Bible speaks of our prayer and worship being a sweet smelling sacrifice, and we are to pray in 'the name of Jesus'.
In the Most Holy Place the Ark of the Covenant points towards Jesus; wood and gold, man and God; the Ark of the Covenant had inside it the Ten Commandments, but the lid of the Ark was known as the Mercy Seat. Jesus said He didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfil it, and His mercy triumphs over judgement.

All of the tabernacle points to Jesus and speaks to us of God's plan to save us through Him, Jesus is at the centre of it. All of it was very carefully planned. So as we remember at Christmas time that Jesus came and camped among us, we should realise that there is a pattern that God has for us to follow, and that Jesus is the pattern.

The pattern God has is about unity not uniformity. Each of us is unique, but each of us can be united with Christ; united with God and with each other. What is the plan you have for your life? Is Jesus at the centre of it? My hope is that you will see something new this year in celebrating the birth of Jesus, knowing He came and camped among us. I pray that you will see in Jesus the pattern of God's plan in a way that will lead you to walk closely with Him, to become more like Him, and to hold Jesus at the centre of your life.