Randy and Katy Smelser

Americans living in Germany but citizens of heaven

33 Year Lockdown


Slow but sure this Lockdown is becoming annoying. It is boring. Oh, I have a lot to do but I am used to doing things with people, face to face.
Have you ever thought that Jesus was in a kind of Lockdown as he was here on the earth. He was restricted in what and how he could do things. Read John 1:9-14 with that thought in mind:

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV)

How can the Light of this universe (9) be condensed into a human body without glowing so bright that all were blinded. Or the Creator of this world (10) be squeezed into one little man. He was separated from the father (14). Yes, he prayed with/to the Father but prayer must have been very restrictive to him like a Zoom or Skype with instable internet. And then on the cross the connection was totally broken off on the cross. And just how do you put the wisdom of the universe (Word – 14) in the brain of one man. Talk about being limited, restricted, locked down.

We put up with this Lockdown because we see a purpose in it. But more and more people are questioning the purpose and the effectiveness. That after just a couple of weeks. Christ lived in His restrictive Lockdown for 33 years but he never lost sight of the goal. He came so that we could become children of God (12-13). Truly, it was grace (14) for Him to freely put himself in Lockdown.

This Lockdown makes me appreciate even more what Jesus did for us.

(Based on a Communion mediation from our Zoom church meeting in April 2020)