The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. – John 1:14 MSG

In our house, we have a chalkboard that rests upon the mantle above our fireplace. My wife, Rachel, likes to write quotes or Bible verses on this chalkboard for encouragement and inspiration. Usually, she’ll write something new every few months. But this year, likely because of how busy she has been, the board hasn’t changed. From the beginning of Advent in 2024 all the way through to today, the chalkboard has read, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

Seeing this sentence over and over throughout the last year has given me many opportunities to reflect on it. Eugene Peterson’s translation of John 1:14 is striking. Jesus, the Word of God, who was and is God, and has always been with God, who was there at the creation of the universe, took on a human body. Then, he moved in. He took up residence. He procured an abode. He found a new living situation. He came to live with human beings – with us. God became man and decided to stick around for a while.

Can you imagine? Existing for an eternity as an infinite being and then, one day, giving all of that up to be a limited, fragile, miniscule human being. And not just for a moment. He didn’t just come for a quick visit – He came to be with us for the long haul. I’m overwhelmed at the thought that the glorious, magnificent God of the universe would become like you and me. And, after having become one of us, He decides to stay that way and to live alongside us. Wow!

As we approach Christmas, this is a significant part of the story of God that we are encouraged to remember. Jesus gave up all of his “Godness” to become a human. And though He remains God, He willingly gives up the glory, power, and prestige of God to be with us. To be one of us. He does this because He loves us. He genuinely cares about us. Rather than allowing us to destroy ourselves through our selfishness, sin, and stupidity, He forsakes the comforts and safety of Heaven to join us in our mess. And because He does, we’re not bound to live in the mess of our making forever. He comes to live in our neighborhood, so that ultimately, we can live in His.