Word became Flesh (John 1:1-14)

Introduction

Christmas is celebrated in many parts of the word because of the birth of Jesus. This is not an ordinary birth because, if it was, it would be celebrated by the family themselves and not the christian community for years to come. We celebrated Christmas because God entered the world he created in a whole new way, by becoming man himself.

“Born God of God and Man of Man - In Christ the very Mercy has descended to sinners, the very Truth to those that are astray, the very Life to those that are dead: so that that Word, which is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father, might take our humble nature into union with His Godhead, and, being born God of God, might also be born Man of man. LEO THE GREAT (CA. 400–461) (Ritzema, Elliot, ed. 300 Quotations and Prayers for Christmas. Lexham Press, 2013. Print. Pastorum Series.)

John in the Prologue of his gospel begins with this incredible event. John 1:1-14, we learn some incredible truths about Jesus as the Word became Flesh.

Messiah’s advent (John 1:14)

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

“Word became flesh” Incarnation (14a)

These 3 words have inspired pages upon pages of commentary trying to probe the depths of the meaning of this event.

The idea of the omnipresent, all-powerful creator of the universe would enter into his creation as a man with all our weaknesses is unthinkable. We call this event the incarnation.

“INCARNATION: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten before all the ages and of one substance with the Father, was made flesh through the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, making Him truly God and truly human, possessing two natures, which are not confused, changed, divided, or separated.” (Woicik, Lisa. “Incarnation.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.)

Dwell with us (14b)

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Dwelt - to settle (pitch a tent) v. — to take up residence or dwell in or as if in a tent; sometimes conveying temporariness. (Biblical Sense)

The equivalent word in Hebrew word used in the OT is Tabernacle, which was the dwelling place of God amounts the Israelites.

Revelation 21:3 (ESV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Glory of the Son (14c)

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Glory - the quality of splendid, remarkable appearance—‘glory, splendor.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 695. Print.)

We see in Jesus the incredible splendor of God.

Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Messiah’s relationships (John 1:1-5)

His relationship to the Father (1:1–2)

Christ’s eternality is declared (1:1a, 2): He already existed in the beginning.

John 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

Jesus did not come into existence with his birth to Mary. Jesus was in the beginning.

Christ’s deity is declared (1:b): He is God.

John 1:1 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus was not only in the beginning, but is God.

This is why vs 14 is amazing. The Word that John is talking about is God.

His relationship to the world (1:3–5)

He is the sole creator (1:3): Nothing exists that he didn’t make.

John 1:3 (ESV)

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The Word that became Flesh is the creator of the universe.

Colossians 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is light and life (1:4–5): His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.

John 1:4–5 (ESV)

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

He is the one who gave us life and will give us new life through his life, death, and resurrection. He is also the light bringing truth and understanding to the world in darkness.

John 8:12 (ESV)

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Messiah’s Mission (John 1:12-13)

Become children of God (12b-13)

John 1:12–13 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus came into the world to save the world through His life death and resurrection. What Jesus came to accomplish is to bring people who have gone astray into sin back into a right relationship with God and God will adopt them into his family as sons and daughters.

Belief in Christ (12a)

John 1:12 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Receive/Believe - to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 375. Print.)

When we believe and trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life/forgiveness/grace/mercy/etc., God gives us the right to become children of God.

Closing Statement

This is why we celebrate Christmas. Our all-knowing, all-powerful God/creator of the universe chose to come into his universe in the form of a man to live a perfect life and die for the forgiveness of our sins. Because of who he is and what he did, God is offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who will put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone. God will then give them the right to be adopted as children of God.

“Christ’s Redemption Reveals God’s Greatest Glory and Mercy - It was a marvelous mercy for God to make man out of the earth; but here God was made man, he became man Himself. There all was done with one word, “Let us make man.” It was easily done. But in this, for Christ to become man for us, and to suffer many things, to be “made a curse for us,” it was not so easy a matter. Therefore herein there is a great manifestation of the glory of God’s goodness and mercy to us. For God has set Himself to be glorious in His mercy, and goodness, and grace, in Christ. He has set Himself to triumph over the greatest ill in man, which is sin, in the glorious work of redemption. So that you see here the greatest glory and mercy of God appears in our redemption by Jesus Christ, the foundation of which is His incarnation. (RICHARD SIBBES (1577–1635)) (Ritzema, Elliot, ed. 300 Quotations and Prayers for Christmas. Lexham Press, 2013. Print. Pastorum Series.)