John 1:14
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.
Reflection: Reflections on the Passion Conference 2026
Written By: Jonathan Shepherd… Director of Student Ministry
The reading for today is mostly about leprosy, so I thought I would invite Jonathan Shepherd to reflect on Passion 2026… a trip he recently took with our young people. I hope this devotion blesses you!
Jesus said once that “where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst (Matt. 18:20).” But, what about 45,000 people? To start the year off, we took a group of young adults and high school seniors to Passion 2026 in Texas. It is a Christian gathering where the Scriptures are preached, and music is used as a powerful vehicle for the worship of God. It is totally overwhelming. Over five sessions and three days, young people encounter God in ways they have not before. People give their allegiance to Jesus and his authority over their lives. Long-time Christians are renewed and reinvigorated for the mission of making Jesus the King of the world.
There is something so powerful about perspective. Did you know that by the time the New Testament was finished, that is, the books we currently call the New Testament had all been written, there were fewer than 10,000 Christians on the entire planet? If there were 100% participation by all Christians everywhere, it wouldn’t be until around 150 years after Jesus’ resurrection that 45,000 Christians could gather for worship, as our students just did. When Jesus spoke those words, 45,000 people would have been around the size of the entire population of the city of Jerusalem. We are talking big. Stadium-maxed-out big. One hour bathroom line big. Totally overwhelming.
It is not just about being big or impressive, though. In fact, my favorite moments on the trip were seeing the students talk in groups of two or three at the hotel as they processed the messages that day. God is certainly big, and that is one of the reasons we trust him: he can handle anything he needs to or wants to. However, God is also in the midst of those two or three working miracles, or in the centermost part of the individual. In the infant Jesus, God traded power and grandeur for connection. God wanted humanity to know, in the most sincere, close, and humble way possible, that he loves them. He became small. I do not know which picture of God is most helpful to you right now, but he is both. Do you need to be reminded that God is on the praising lips of millions around the world and moving in powerful ways across the globe? That he is big enough for your questions, struggles, and even mortality. Or is today a day that you need a more human-sized Jesus to sit beside you and just connect? To remind you that he is with you, that he will walk with you through your struggles and grief. God knows the big and the small things. He knows the “me” and the “we.” God loves it when 45,000 people gather to worship him, and he loves it when you repent of a single sin that has been weighing on you. I pray that God meets you where you are, and that you trust him in all things, whether you need reminding of his grandeur or his gentleness.
Prayer
Lord, remind us that you are both near and transcendent… that you meet us in the large gatherings, and in the privacy of our bedrooms. You are always there, and we are thankful.
