“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23 (NIV)
Christmas is a gift giving holiday, and a wonderful time to reflect on the greatest gifts ever given to the world, which began when the Son of God arrived as a human baby. Isaiah described this baby as bearing the titles, “Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of peace.” In another chapter, Isaiah calls the baby, “Immanuel, God with us.”
An infant bearing all these lofty titles, indicates the mystery and miracle of of the incarnation, God with us, which is a beautiful thought to ponder, though something we may never fully comprehend.
God sent Jesus, in order to reveal more of Himself to us. Jesus told people whoever sees Him has seen His Father, words that eventually got Him killed. He showed us through His parables, the unconditional love that God has towards people in all sectors of society, especially the outcasts. The parable of the prodigal son revealed that God has the heart of a father towards us, and His love doesn’t change based on our goodness. He loves us with unconditional love, because He is a good Father.
Jesus offers us the gift of His peace, saying “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled.” His peace is the remedy for all troubled hearts. The world’s perception of peace is about acquiring things, and ridding ourselves of problems. The peace of Jesus is different. He dwells within us, so His peace remains with us through all the storms in our life.
In today’s scripture, Jesus tells us that He and His Father are moving in with us. He uses first person plural, saying “We” will make our home with you. If God has moved in with us, then the kingdom of God is in us, and not just a far off place called heaven. God is living in us through His Spirit, the gift He sent ever since Pentecost. Jesus further explained how this “internal kingdom of Heaven” works.
He told us that He asked the Father to give us another helper, someone who will be with us forever, and that person is the Holy Spirit. Throughout the 14th chapter of John’s gospel, Jesus seemed to define the roles of what He does, what His Father does, and what the Holy Spirit does.
He refers to the Holy Spirit as a person, saying, “The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17)
Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to know God, the Father, and Jesus, His Son. Anytime we pray, we reconnect to that kingdom of God living in us and working within us. The fruits of the kingdom within us are peace, love, joy, comfort, wisdom, discernment, and much more.
Sometimes I need to remind myself that He is within me even when I do something as mundane as standing in a crowded check out line, or driving through heavy traffic. He is in us when we are ill, or caring for our terminally ill loved one or visiting someone in the hospital.
He is within us when we ask for His help and listen for His calming voice, during the most fearful or unstable moments in our life. He answers us deep within, assuring us “It’s going to be okay.” Jesus is like the veteran soldier, who already suffered every kind of human hardship that we could ever live through, and He will guide us safely to heaven, through His Spirit, who lives in us.
Jesus summed it all up by saying, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” (John 14:20)
He wants us to realize that He has come to live with us and in us, and His Holy Spirit empowers us to keep trusting, knowing God is with us, as we share His gifts with others.
Lord, thank you for all the gifts you have given us, and help us to share your peace, love and joy with others every day, but in a special way this Christmas. Amen
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ❤️