Exodus 40:17-21, 34-38; Titus 3:4-7; St John 1:1-18
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
One year after getting their freedom, one year after they were delivered through the blood-spattered doors and the Red Sea, on their 1st birthday, God gave His firstborn son the Israelites the gift of a Tent.
Up went the Tent God had given them. But this was no pup tent. This was no party tent. This would be a beautiful Tent. A royal Tent. A Tent fit for a King. This Tent was known as a Tabernacle.
God called Moses up to the top of Mt Sinai and in a vision of the heavenly sanctuary, gave him the divine blueprint for an earthly one. He detailed the materials, the architecture, the accouterments. God even inspired the craftsmen with the skill and wisdom to build His Tent to His specificity. It was to be made with blue, purple, and scarlet threads woven into the finest of linen. Angels were to be embroidered on it. The walls were to be made with ram-skin leather dyed red. And some badger skin. The furnishings for this Tent were to be made with the finest wood overlaid with gold. It was to be a glorious Tent.
But the most glorious thing was yet to come. God Himself, coming down from heaven to fill the Tent with His Glory. The Glory that encircled Mt Sinai, that frightened the Israelites, that wrapped the mountain in thick darkness and thunder. When God came down, He descended in a cloud of Glory. He filled that Tent with His glory. It was so grand and awesome - God came down among His people, in their midst, dwelling in a Tent. But it was so unapproachable that no one could enter the Tent. Not even Moses. It would have been deadly. God’s Glory filled that Tent, but no one dared just waltz in and get themselves some of God’s Glory.
God came to dwell, to pitch His Tent and provide a way for Him to be among His people, but He now had to provide a way for His people to have access to Him. He did. But it was limited access. Only one man on one day could go in - the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. And not without washing and not without blood. God may have been dwelling with His people, but it was a though He were aloof, distant, mysterious, intimidating and scary. God present with His people, but with a “Do Not Disturb” sign.
But today is Christmas Day. Birthday of birthdays. Jesus’ birthday. The birthday day of God on earth. And look what present God is giving to a dark world held in bondage to Satan’s power. You guessed it. A Tent! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen His Glory, Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. “Dwelt among us.” Literally εσκηνωσεν. En-skinned. Tented among us. Its the birthday of birthdays and God is giving the world another Tent.
But this Tent is way better. Its not a Tent made with the skin of a ram or a badger, but the skin of the only-begotten Son of God. Its not a Tent with fancy angels embroidered into it, but a Tent that make real-live angels sing, Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth! Its not a Tent with furnishings overlaid with gold. Its a Tent made of blood and bones, organs and water, just like the tent of your body. But this Tent is overlaid with the skin of God who is also true Man.
The Word became flesh and tented among us. God is present in this Tent named Jesus, the Word who was with God in the beginning and the Word who was God. This God dwells with man in this Tent. Joy of joys. Birthday of birthdays. The Glory of God - Jesus - is with man!
And the best part is He’s no longer aloof, distant, mysterious and intimidating. Instead He appears in the humble flesh of a Baby, something that doesn’t frighten, but draws - shepherds and wise men, angels and sinners like you. This Tent doesn’t come with a “Do Not Disturb” sign. For with the coming of the Child in the Manger, God was causing great disturbance among the hoards of hell, for God’s Glory was now accessible to all men. The Light was shining in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
It’s Christmas and the world gets the greatest gift ever - a Tent. God gives this Gift knowing what we’ll do to the Tent. We’ll live as though that Tent doesn’t matter and as though we matter most. We’ll treat that Tent as though its nothing special. We’ll pitch that Tent up on a Cross and tear it apart, deface it and poke holes in it. But He’ll bear it all and suffer it to death and be buried so that He might stand erect in the Resurrection and give you shelter from God’s wrath against sin.
It’s Christmas and God is still giving tents to the world. Its the gift that keeps on giving. With the Tabernacle God provided a way to dwell with His people. In Jesus, the Word made flesh, He provided a way for His people to dwell with Him. This is how St Paul put it to St Titus: When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us. Jesus is our Rescuer from hell and damnation. He is the Tent called Goodness to cover over those who have done bad. When Jesus was born, Loving-kindness covered over those who have been unkind.
That word, lovingkindness, is actually “philanthropy” in the Greek, which means, “Lover of Man.” So, God shows us at Christmas, with this Tent named Jesus, that He is the Ultimate Philanthropist. He appeared in the Flesh for the truest philanthropy to take place - by loving you and saving you from the worst.
He came unto His own and by His grace you have received Him. You catechumens know this passage from Titus as part of Holy Baptism - How can water do such great things? This is what Jesus does in your Baptism. He places His Tent over you, to shelter you with His love, cover you with His forgiveness, grant you access to and a share in His glory. And make you little tents too. God’s little tents in the world.
That is what you are - a gift to many. Believing in His Name, given the right to be called His children, God has made you a gift to your family. You are God’s gift to your workplace. You are God’s gift to your neighborhood. God’s royal tens in this world upon whom He put His name and His glory.
The Word became flesh and tented among us. You have seen His Glory and continue to receive from His fullness grace upon grace overflowing. For behold the gift of His Tent not under but upon the Tree. Here, in His Supper you climb inside the Tent of the Word made Flesh and are given access to the great Glory of the Lord. Direct access, not once a year, but always, to God’s forgiveness, holiness, righteousness imparted to you, mercy, loving kindness, faithfulness, salvation, and the entirety of His fellowship.
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth;
Clothed in flesh You came to earth.
The virgin bears a sinless Boy
And all the angels sing for joy. Alleluia!
Merry Christmas. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
One year after getting their freedom, one year after they were delivered through the blood-spattered doors and the Red Sea, on their 1st birthday, God gave His firstborn son the Israelites the gift of a Tent.
Up went the Tent God had given them. But this was no pup tent. This was no party tent. This would be a beautiful Tent. A royal Tent. A Tent fit for a King. This Tent was known as a Tabernacle.
God called Moses up to the top of Mt Sinai and in a vision of the heavenly sanctuary, gave him the divine blueprint for an earthly one. He detailed the materials, the architecture, the accouterments. God even inspired the craftsmen with the skill and wisdom to build His Tent to His specificity. It was to be made with blue, purple, and scarlet threads woven into the finest of linen. Angels were to be embroidered on it. The walls were to be made with ram-skin leather dyed red. And some badger skin. The furnishings for this Tent were to be made with the finest wood overlaid with gold. It was to be a glorious Tent.
But the most glorious thing was yet to come. God Himself, coming down from heaven to fill the Tent with His Glory. The Glory that encircled Mt Sinai, that frightened the Israelites, that wrapped the mountain in thick darkness and thunder. When God came down, He descended in a cloud of Glory. He filled that Tent with His glory. It was so grand and awesome - God came down among His people, in their midst, dwelling in a Tent. But it was so unapproachable that no one could enter the Tent. Not even Moses. It would have been deadly. God’s Glory filled that Tent, but no one dared just waltz in and get themselves some of God’s Glory.
God came to dwell, to pitch His Tent and provide a way for Him to be among His people, but He now had to provide a way for His people to have access to Him. He did. But it was limited access. Only one man on one day could go in - the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. And not without washing and not without blood. God may have been dwelling with His people, but it was a though He were aloof, distant, mysterious, intimidating and scary. God present with His people, but with a “Do Not Disturb” sign.
But today is Christmas Day. Birthday of birthdays. Jesus’ birthday. The birthday day of God on earth. And look what present God is giving to a dark world held in bondage to Satan’s power. You guessed it. A Tent! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen His Glory, Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. “Dwelt among us.” Literally εσκηνωσεν. En-skinned. Tented among us. Its the birthday of birthdays and God is giving the world another Tent.
But this Tent is way better. Its not a Tent made with the skin of a ram or a badger, but the skin of the only-begotten Son of God. Its not a Tent with fancy angels embroidered into it, but a Tent that make real-live angels sing, Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth! Its not a Tent with furnishings overlaid with gold. Its a Tent made of blood and bones, organs and water, just like the tent of your body. But this Tent is overlaid with the skin of God who is also true Man.
The Word became flesh and tented among us. God is present in this Tent named Jesus, the Word who was with God in the beginning and the Word who was God. This God dwells with man in this Tent. Joy of joys. Birthday of birthdays. The Glory of God - Jesus - is with man!
And the best part is He’s no longer aloof, distant, mysterious and intimidating. Instead He appears in the humble flesh of a Baby, something that doesn’t frighten, but draws - shepherds and wise men, angels and sinners like you. This Tent doesn’t come with a “Do Not Disturb” sign. For with the coming of the Child in the Manger, God was causing great disturbance among the hoards of hell, for God’s Glory was now accessible to all men. The Light was shining in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
It’s Christmas and the world gets the greatest gift ever - a Tent. God gives this Gift knowing what we’ll do to the Tent. We’ll live as though that Tent doesn’t matter and as though we matter most. We’ll treat that Tent as though its nothing special. We’ll pitch that Tent up on a Cross and tear it apart, deface it and poke holes in it. But He’ll bear it all and suffer it to death and be buried so that He might stand erect in the Resurrection and give you shelter from God’s wrath against sin.
It’s Christmas and God is still giving tents to the world. Its the gift that keeps on giving. With the Tabernacle God provided a way to dwell with His people. In Jesus, the Word made flesh, He provided a way for His people to dwell with Him. This is how St Paul put it to St Titus: When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us. Jesus is our Rescuer from hell and damnation. He is the Tent called Goodness to cover over those who have done bad. When Jesus was born, Loving-kindness covered over those who have been unkind.
That word, lovingkindness, is actually “philanthropy” in the Greek, which means, “Lover of Man.” So, God shows us at Christmas, with this Tent named Jesus, that He is the Ultimate Philanthropist. He appeared in the Flesh for the truest philanthropy to take place - by loving you and saving you from the worst.
He came unto His own and by His grace you have received Him. You catechumens know this passage from Titus as part of Holy Baptism - How can water do such great things? This is what Jesus does in your Baptism. He places His Tent over you, to shelter you with His love, cover you with His forgiveness, grant you access to and a share in His glory. And make you little tents too. God’s little tents in the world.
That is what you are - a gift to many. Believing in His Name, given the right to be called His children, God has made you a gift to your family. You are God’s gift to your workplace. You are God’s gift to your neighborhood. God’s royal tens in this world upon whom He put His name and His glory.
The Word became flesh and tented among us. You have seen His Glory and continue to receive from His fullness grace upon grace overflowing. For behold the gift of His Tent not under but upon the Tree. Here, in His Supper you climb inside the Tent of the Word made Flesh and are given access to the great Glory of the Lord. Direct access, not once a year, but always, to God’s forgiveness, holiness, righteousness imparted to you, mercy, loving kindness, faithfulness, salvation, and the entirety of His fellowship.
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth;
Clothed in flesh You came to earth.
The virgin bears a sinless Boy
And all the angels sing for joy. Alleluia!
Merry Christmas. Amen.
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