The newlyweds from Korea began visiting our church during the summer. He came to the U.S. a couple of years ago to begin his Ph.D. work, and she followed him this summer. The first time we invited them over for dinner, we all had to work a bit to understand one another. He’s had more time to practice his English than she has, but I was still impressed with her quick grasp of the language.
Over the months, they’ve been faithful and very involved in our corporate worship services, even contributing deliciously authentic Korean dishes to our weekly potluck meals after church. Their willingness to fully embrace our very American church life has taught me a lot about humility and love for others.
Last night, our new friends came over for dessert. I enjoy the opportunity pull out my array of herbal teas when they come, and they arrived with a delicious loaf of castella flavored with matcha tea for us to share.
After tea and dessert and lots of conversation about the similarities and differences between Korean and American church culture, we invited them to join our nightly Advent activities that we enjoy with our children throughout December. They graciously joined in.
We lit the candles first. Our oldest child read through the Luke 2 account of Jesus’ birth as our youngest child moved another piece of the nativity story to our Advent calendar. Our friends followed the story closely and filled in the words they knew were coming: Bethlehem, manger, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Jesus.
One of our family traditions involves a gratitude project that requires each of us to write down one thing we’re thankful for every evening. Last night’s list includes words written in both English and Korean, gifts that God has given us. We gathered around the candles for the nightly devotional reading, listening as my husband read about what Jesus’ first coming has meant for us as we long for His second coming.
We always close our Advent times with a Christmas hymn. My family sang the first verse to “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” in English, and our guests followed with the same verse and tune sung in Korean. Only two words did I recognize: Emmanuel and Israel. Fruitlessly, I fought the tears that filled my eyes.
The name of Jesus transcended the two cultures represented in our living room last night.
If it weren’t for the gospel of Jesus Christ, we would have no reason to know this dear couple from Korea. If they hadn’t come to faith in Christ earlier in their lives, they wouldn’t have sought out a church in Missouri during their short stint here. If we hadn’t come to faith in Christ earlier in our lives, we wouldn’t be here serving in a small church in Missouri. But Jesus is why we’re here, and Jesus makes us family. He unites us despite our differences, and truthfully, we have more in common than not because the gospel makes us closer than any cultural or biological tie.
One of the beautiful truths of the gospel is that at the cross Jesus not only reconciled us to God, He also reconciled us to each other.
One of the beautiful truths of the gospel is that at the cross Jesus not only reconciled us to God, He also reconciled us to each other. Share on X“For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:14-22
The gospel cuts through cultural, biological, socioeconomic, and gender differences. In Christ, we are not only equal, we are family. We are one building being built together with Jesus as the foundation—the One who holds us all together.
Often our inclination as human beings is to surround ourselves with people who are most like us. We are suspicious of those who are different from us, and in our sinful states we often put ourselves at the top of whatever hierarchy we can construct that makes us feel superior to others. We’ve had this problem since Genesis, but it’s clear in Scripture that we’re all equally in desperate need for a Savior. When Jesus makes us righteous before God, He also obliterates any sinful need for a hierarchy.
Jesus reconciles us to one another because His blood is thicker than water. He makes it possible for a young couple from Korea and a young couple in Missouri to be members of the same family, the same building, the same body, the same faith. The baby in the manger made us family.
I long for the day when we are all together—brothers and sisters from every tribe, tongue, and nation—gathered around the throne of God, rejoicing because Emmanuel came the first time to begin His kingdom and the second time to complete it. Praise God for such a large, beautiful family.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Glenna Marshall is married to her pastor, William, and lives in rural Southeast Missouri where she tries and fails to keep up with her two energetic sons. She is the author of The Promise is His Presence (P&R) and Everyday Faithfulness (Crossway), and Memorizing Scripture (Moody). Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
