So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
John 4:5-6

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No one defines “down to earth” like Jesus. We use this phrase when we encounter someone who is grounded and genuine, real and relatable. But when deity decides to lay that aside, to step into the daily grind, that’s remarkable.

As we head toward Christmas, we are reminded that Christ did the unimaginable—He willingly chose to get as close as possible to people like you and me. I particularly appreciate John’s take on Jesus. From chapter 1 onward, he pulls the curtain back on how the Lord stepped down from heaven to walk in humanity’s sandals. John 1:14 in the Message paints a vivid image: “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” It doesn’t get more down to earth than that.

John 4 has a lot to say about the lengths Jesus went to reach people. The Samaritan woman at the well didn’t expect to encounter a Jewish Rabbi, let alone the fully divine, fully human Savior of the world. But there’s another layer to the encounter, something so down to earth that we easily breeze past it. Are you ready for this? After a 30-mile hike, Jesus rested by a well in the heat of the day while his crew left for lunch.

While being born in a manger can feel fairytale-like, there’s nothing sensational about Christ being tired, hungry, and thirsty. It’s so simple and similar to what we go through every day and through life. We can sympathize with the Lord’s fatigue in the wilderness, His tears for suffering friends and strangers, and even His physical agony before dying. Jesus was truly down to earth, and as we know, life on earth takes its toll on finite people.

Today, let’s reflect on the reality that God’s Son loves you and me so much that He chose to be confined to a human body. That’s wild to consider, right? He didn’t have to limit Himself in this way, but He did. The next time you reach for a glass of water, need something to eat, or wipe sweat from your forehead, remember you are down to earth and so was/is Jesus.

Next Steps

Go for a long walk with Jesus this weekend. Maybe invite a friend to join you. Pick a time and starting point, and stick to it even if the weather isn’t great. As you get cold or hot, thirsty or tired, reflect on the reality that God loves you so much He decided to be “down to earth” with you.