The God Who Wears Skin
My daughter, Kati, tells me that her three little princesses get so excited when they know they are coming to Grandma’s house. As the grandmother whose house they are coming to, this information inspires me to make sure the candy jar is full and the story books ready.I love to hold my granddaughters close, skin to skin, as we read stories together.God is no different. He is getting his place ready for us. When it is time, he’ll come to get us.And yes, there will be stories to tell and good things to eat at his house.And yes, he will hold us close—skin to skin, and we will live with him forever. This is the third coming celebrated during Advent.
God wore skin
Years ago God became man—human body and all. He walked among us—ate, drank, told stories, hugged people, laughed, lived, and loved.He died in that body and came back to life. His new body was recognizable—different, transformed, yet totally human.That body bore the scars of his sacrifice (see John 20:24-29).
God wears skin
Jesus is still in that body. He still wears skin.Someday, when I see Jesus face to face, he’ll be wearing skin.I will eat and drink with him. We’ll laugh, talk, hug, tell stories, listen, and he’ll continue to reveal his glory to me.Will I have a new body? You betcha. A body that is young and healthy. (You’ll still be able to recognize me by my red hair.)
The God Who Wears Skin is Coming
Jesus is coming back to get us so that we can live together for all of eternity future. He has promised that He will come for us, and He will.As His followers, we are to remind each other of this promise and encourage each other to live as if this third coming could be today (see 1 Thessalonians 4 and Revelations 19:7-9).
Advent—“coming”—a time of celebrating the three comings of Christ:
- the promised coming of Christ on that long ago Christmas morning
- because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, He comes and gives us eternal life and forms His image in us
- his promise of coming again to take us to be with him forever
Jesus is coming. He could come today.How are you getting yourself ready to live forever with the God Who Wears Skin?
In Him together, Susan Gaddis