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Jesus’ Earthly Tent

The Word became human and made his home among us. -John 1:14

When my wife and I visited the historic Yorktown battleground in Virginia, we learned much about that decisive battle in America’s war for independence.

The woman at the guest center pointed our attention to a display containing the remnants of the tent of George Washington, the leader of the Continental Army. During the siege of Yorktown in 1781, Washington lived in that very tent.

Seeing a 250-year-old tent with such historical value was impressive. Yet consider the “tent” Jesus lived in.

The apostle John wrote of this tent, “The Word became human and made his home among us” (John 1:14). The phrase “made his home” can be translated tabernacled. As God’s presence blessed the tent of meeting—the Tabernacle (see Exodus 40)—Christ came and blessed us by dwelling in a tent of human flesh.

The apostle Paul would write of the “earthly tent” in which we dwell—that is, our human bodies (2 Corinthians 5:1). Remarkably, Jesus chose to live in just such a dwelling. This is the real significance of His birth.

Philippians 2:5-11 recounts how Christ humbled Himself, left the presence of the Father, and came to earth in the form of a servant to go to the cross for our redemption.

Jesus lived in a tent of humanity—a visible demonstration of His love for us.

Bill Crowder

What’s difficult about dwelling in your “earthly tent”—your body? How does it help you to know that Jesus also lived in such a body?

Living God, I give You thanks for the life Jesus came to live and for the life He makes available to me.