NT: John. Carry on Camping...

I think God has a thing for tents.  After all, he lived in one whilst the Israelites wandered around in the desert and until Solomon built him a temple.  He even used a tent-maker as one of his main evangelistic weapons (that's Paul, by the way-Acts 18:3).  Tents are temporary dwellings; Paul likens our earthly bodies to tents because we will only have them this side of eternity and our resurrection bodies.  Anyway, I'm sure you are asking by now, 'What do tents have to do with John's gospel; the word doesn't even appear in it?'.  Well, let me assure you that it does, it's all in the Greek (obviously) and it's some of the most profound theology you'll come across.

Look up John 1:14, it probably reads something along the lines of "The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us...".  I say, mistranslation.  The word translated 'dwelt' is the Greek word 'eskenesen', which means 'pitched his tent'.  I much prefer a translation along the lines of 'The Word became flesh and tabernacled amongst us.'  The tabernacle symbolised God's presence with his people and I believe it is no accident that John chose this word rather than words derived from oikeo which comes from the word for house.  If John 1:1 didn't make it clear enough that Jesus, the Word was God, describing his stay on earth as a tent pitching should make it clear. (Also, to hammer the final nail in the coffin, so to speak, are the I AM sayings).

I love that Jesus came to earth to dwell with us, experience what we experience and ultimately sacrifice himself for our salvation.  I love that he was prepared to leave heaven's splendour for a camping trip to show us what God is like.  Next time you go camping, thank God for his camping trip.