December 2: A Common Mark
♫ Music:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
John 3:16-17
A COMMON MARK
One the most frequently quoted verses, at least since the invention of the television, is John 3:16. Most of us know it by memory. Familiarity can sometimes cause the most profound truths to fade in significance.
When God gave His son, He loved us. Pause. He heard the cry of our hearts, and He came down in and through Jesus, to rescue us. Let the truth have its way. He came, not to judge, like we so often do, but to save. Allow faith in Him to grow. The fruit is life. Hope for the hopeless…Strength in our weakness…this is His life to us now and forever. Believe and receive.
Belly buttons…I know, a bit of an abrupt, unexpected transition. Nevertheless, when I hear John 3:16, it’s what I think of for some silly reason—that familiar little innie (or outie) right in the center of our bodies, just above our belt and below our eyes, almost out of sight, so easy to forget in terms of their significance.
The truth is: regardless of the period of history, the place on the globe, or one’s unique ethnic background, every person has a belly button. They are the mark that reminds us of the pre-birth lifeline, that vital connection to Mom…and to Eve. We absolutely needed that lifeline to make it into this world. We just wouldn’t be here without it. It’s easy to lose touch with the deep meaning of something so common.
When God loved us so, He made sure His son had a belly button. As Mary’s child, He would share this common mark with every person of every tribe, tongue and nation. He became just like us in order to love us in just the right way. The familiar and the common are unequivocally amazing in God’s son, Jesus.
On this day, resist the fading, forgetful effects of the familiar. Belly buttons can help us remember the profound significance of our own birth and the amazing gift of life we’ve been given from the very beginning. Yet even more so, let this just-beneath-our-chin familiarity or the all too common John 3:16 sign on Channel 7 prompt us to remember and celebrate the history altering, humanity transforming reality of Jesus’ birth.
The great gift of the only-begotten son of the Father was given. Love came down through Him, and we are saved.
May this love open up our hearts, help us believe & enable us to find His life today.
Matthew Hooper, Associate Dean of Students
GOD, thank you for sending Your Son into this world, to us a broken people, held captive by sin. Help us to trust in Jesus Christ alone as our Savior, and help us to spread Your love through our words and actions. Amen
Collage of Non-Western Nativities
About the Art and Artists
Artwork in Collage:
Nativity, 1998
He Qi, Chinese
Ink and gouache on rice paper.
Nativity, Early 1990s
Fr. Engelbert Mveng, Cameroon
Central scene from church mural
Holy Angels Church, Aurora, Illinois.
Nativity, 1980s
P. Solomon Raj, Indian
Batik
Black Jesus
Artist and source unknown, 1960’s
Three Wise Men
Linda Syddick Napaljarri, Aboriginal Australian
Jesus’ Birth in a Stable
Sadao Watanabe, Japanese (1913 –1996)
Nativity
Unknown Ethiopian artist
Aboriginal Nativity
Unknown Artist
About the Musicians and Music
The Brilliance is a contemporary classical music duo composed of David Gungor and John Arndt, originating from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The journey started in early 2009 when David became inspired to create a unique and different musical experience outside of the typical “Christian music” soundscape. “I wanted to make a Christian record that was constructed in a fresh way. I had an idea to base a record around a string quartet and piano, and then build around that.” David teamed up with longtime friend and fellow musician John Arndt and began the creative process. “I called John Arndt, and asked if he could produce the record, and do the string arrangements.” The rest is history.
Website: http://67.43.0.103/~thebrill/
Open Up Lyrics
You heard the cry of our hearts
And You came down
Freely You gave us Your love
Showing us how
Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is darkness let me shine light and
May Your love cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling
Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is darkness let me shine light and
May Your love cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
Hope for the hopeless, Your love is
Strength in our weakness, Your love is
May we love, as You love
Hope for the hopeless, Your love is
Strength in our weakness, Your love is
May we love, as You love
(As only You can love, oh God)
May we love, as You love