Jesse Joyner, PhD

Juggling and the Meaning of “Immanuel”

Having fun at the Christmas Eve service at Commonwealth Chapel a few nights ago. This is a video of Jacob and I knocking the candy cane out of Pastor Rob’s mouth while passing around him! The teaching focus was on the fact that Jesus entered the world as a gift to community (Immanuel means, ‘God with us,’ as opposed to ‘God with me‘).  Thus, Jacob and I juggled together to represent community. We grow together, we worship together, and we receive God’s grace together. Just look at all the first person plurals used in the New Testament (especially 1 John) for the people of God.

And below is a shot of how I finished – balancing the ladder. Jesus is the ladder between us and the Father in heaven – just like Jacob dreamed and then Jesus declared to Nathaniel.

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