The Word Tabernacled Among Us

Sunday's sermon turned up two overlooked nuggets in a familiar passage of Scripture. The Associate Rector of St. James Episcopal Church, Marietta GA, preached on the first chapter of John's gospel. During the season of Advent just passed, we hear a substantial chunk of that chapter at the end of every service.

"John's Gospel begins where the other three gospels end," Fr. Daron said, citing the theologian studied by Tuesday Bible Study group. In the Synoptic Gospels, the apostles repeatedly misunderstand who Jesus is until the resurrected Jesus has addressed them. But John tells us up front, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." John the Baptizer's first words in the Gospel are, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world."


Fr. Daron pointed out what I've long overlooked in my Oxford Study Bible, that "dwelt" would be better translated as "tabernacled," a reference to the portable tent that housed the Ark of the Covenant while the ancient Jews wandered in the wilderness. This metaphor suggests God's glory tented in flesh, and also God traveling with us. [See photo of a reconstructed tabernacle.]


Then Fr. Daron admitted that he'd never paid attention to the Baptizer's statement, "I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel" (1.33). So, John baptized not to wash away sins, not to start a movement, but only to draw out the Messiah. The voice that told him to baptize also promised that John would see the Spirit descend upon the Messiah.