Monday 11 May 2020

Jesus as a Presence

The incarnation - to use the theological term - is central to all that Jesus is and did. Jesus came to be with us, to be alongside us, to be part of us. To speak of the incarnation is the theological way of saying that God became human. Jesus was present with the first disciples. Jesus was present with the crowds to whom he preached. Jesus was present with those whom he healed, those to whom he chatted, those whom he inspired, those whom he challenged. To be present with somebody is a very special thing. I can chat with you on the phone. I can write you a letter. I can send a message through a mutual friend. I can communicate through a whole range of social media. But (as we are discovering far more strongly in these strange days) none of it is the same, or as good as, being able to meet with you. Jesus is present with us - and encourages us to do all we can (these days in as creative and innovative ways as possible) to be present with those who need the good news, just as he was in his day.

"I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b)

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

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