Friedrich Nietchze once said that he could only believe in a God who dances.  I love that quote.  Because, though Nietzche was/is still a well known skeptic, he unwittingly hit upon a great truth.  For God IS a God who dances. 

Read the Wedding at Cana passage from John 2 today.  I love that story!  And it struck me anew how Jesus’s first miracle was at a wedding.  Not a solemn, grim occasion but a joyous one!  The Father chose a wedding to punctuate the beginning of Jesus’s ministry.  Phenomenal!

It was a glorious reminder to me that God is a God of celebration and joy!  Yes, He is a Holy God.  Yes, He is a righteous judge who passes judgement on the wicked.  But we see in this passage a Jesus who is full of joy.  Who clearly is celebrating this moment with the people at the wedding.  He makes many gallons worth of wine for goodness sake.  And sorry to pop some people’s bubbles, it was real, intoxicating type wine.  Period.

Can’t you see Jesus at that moment?  I’m sure he was laughing alot.  And, yes, I’m sure He was dancing.  For it is very much the nature of God to take joy in His creation.  So often the Bible refers to God in this way.  For God LOVES all His Creation.  He rejoices in it.  That is why He sent His son.  That is ultimately the message of the Gospel.  That God sent His only son for us all.  For all of creation really.  But especially for us.  

I love the passages from Zephaniah 3 where it says that God “rejoices over us with singing”.  I’ve heard it said that this is not prophetic analogy or symbolism.  It is clear in that text that God sings over us.   And He does it with joy.  He is joyfully pleased with us.  Isn’t that amazing?  Isn’t that astounding?  It’s amazing that the God of the whole universe (and other universes for that matter if they do exist) even pays attention to us at all.  But it’s the opposite of that.  He is intimately interested in us.  He desires to be in close union with us like a spouse in marriage (which is in deed interesting that Jesus’s first miracle was at a wedding).  

Oh how He loves us so!  Glory to the King of Kings!  So, at this time of year, as we remember the story of how God became one of us, let us not forget that He did so because he loves us.  And yes, Friedrich, God does dance.