John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us... John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make an abode with him.
John 1:14 refers to the incarnation: the Word, which is God (John 1:1), became flesh and tabernacled among us. The word "tabernacled" in this verse is rich in its significance. It signifies that the incarnated One is the very mingling of God and man. This mingling is God's tabernacle, where God can dwell. Furthermore, in this tabernacle God's chosen people can serve God and stay with Him. Therefore, in John 1:14 we see the mingling of God with man in the incarnation to become God's tabernacle, His dwelling place. In John 14:23, we see that the Son and the Father will come to the one who loves the Lord Jesus and make an abode with that one. Then in John 15:4 the Lord indicates that He may become our abode, our abiding place, and that we need to be His abode. The Lord seems to be saying, "Abide in Me so that I may abide in you. Be My abode so that I may be your abode." Here we have the mingling of God and man for a mutual dwelling place. The thought of having God as our habitation can be found in the Old Testament. For example, Deuteronomy 33:27 says, "The God of old is your habitation." In Psalm 90:1 Moses says, "O Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations." The New Testament reveals clearly that there is a universal building, and this building is the mutual building of God and His chosen people. Actually, this habitation is God as our dwelling place and we as God's dwelling place. This wonderful dwelling place is God's building.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Acts, pp.124-125. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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