God Became Flesh.

Introduction:

Since this time last year we have been walking through the gospel of Luke and we will once again pick that exposition up in the new year. But, for today, Christmas Eve Sunday 2023, we’re going to instead make our way to the Gospel of John 1:14.

All four Gospels present Jesus by emphasizing different aspects of the nature and work of Christ.

Matthew- Kingship

Mark- Servitude

Luke- Manhood

But John, places his emphasis on the Deity (or Godhood) of Christ. John is unique because of his powerful presentation of Jesus as the Creator God of the universe.

v.1-18 of John’s gospel are perhaps among the most powerful sections in all of scripture and it is all about the “Incarnation of Christ.”

Incarnation- The eternal second person of the Trinity, took upon himself a complete human nature by being born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to die for the sins of humanity and defeat death by the power of his resurrection.

This was a doctrine widely debated and defended for the first five centuries of the church.

In fact the real St. Nicholas of Myra is said to have slapped the heretic Arius of Alexandria at the counsel of Nicea for denying the incarnation. Ultimately Arius was defeated with the counsel of Nicea writing what has become the Nicene Creed.

We believe in one God,       the Father almighty,       maker of heaven and earth,       of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,       the only Son of God,       begotten from the Father before all ages,            God from God,            Light from Light,            true God from true God,       begotten, not made;       of the same essence as the Father.       Through him all things were made.       For us and for our salvation            he came down from heaven;            he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,            and was made human.            He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;            he suffered and was buried.            The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.            He ascended to heaven            and is seated at the right hand of the Father.            He will come again with glory            to judge the living and the dead.            His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,       the Lord, the giver of life.       He proceeds from the Father and the Son,       and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.       He spoke through the prophets.       We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.       We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.       We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,       and to life in the world to come. Amen.

Forming an early statement of faith for the church.

John 1:14 forms a sort of summary of v.1-18 by delivering one of the most concise biblical statements of the incarnation.

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.

The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ took on flesh and blood. He became a man. There is no greater message that could ever be preached.

1.) “Christ became flesh”.

John 1:14 (ESV)

‌‌14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,..….

The Incarnation did take place. The Son of God actually became flesh. He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

But, what does it mean to say Christ became flesh? and “Why did he have to become flesh?

Flesh- is the word that is used to describe man’s nature with all of its weakness and tendency to sin.

The flesh is corruptible.

That is to say that it is tainted and ruined by sin. It is depraved. There is a deep rooted seed of corruption within human flesh. It sins and therefore ages, dies, deteriorates and decays.

1 Corinthians 15:50 ESV

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Christ (the Word) became flesh in order to correct and counteract the corruption of the flesh.

2 Peter 1:4 ESV

4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

The flesh is dishonorable.

It is not what God created it to be originally. It has become disgraced and shamed by sin. We no longer fully display the image of God like we once did. Our flesh is held in the grip of sin and in bondage to the death it brings.

Romans 7:18 ESV

18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the dishonor of the flesh.

Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

The flesh is weak.

It is impotent , feeble, frail, fragile, infirmed and decrepit because of sin. It has no strength to do anything to please God and therefore cannot save itself.

Romans 8:8 ESV

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Jesus became flesh to correct and counteract the weakness of the flesh.

Romans 5:6 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

The flesh is a natural body.

Our flesh is of the earth and part of the earth. It is made up of the substances of the earth. It is physical and material. It is not spiritual or spirit. It is merely a “tent” and “earthly house” to our soul and spirit. It cannot live beyond the things that make up its composition. It cannot live beyond its natural life.

1 Corinthians 15:50 ESV

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Jesus became flesh to counteract the natural body of the flesh. He became flesh in order to be the Savior who could bring life to all those who come to him in faith.

1 Corinthians 15:45 ESV

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

2.) Christ dwelt among us visibly.

John was actually saying that he and others actually saw the Word (Christ) made flesh.

Jesus was beyond question God himself who became man, who partook of the very same flesh as all other men.

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

John 1:14 (ESV)

…and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God’s glory was seen

Jesus was the very embodiment of God. All that God is and does was fully present in Jesus.

John is declaring “we looked at him, we saw him, and could tell he was God.”

All that Jesus was in His person, being, character, and behavior was so enormously different from any other person.

He was the very embodiment of Grace and truth.

Grace is the beauty, joy, loveliness, goodness, kindness and love of God on display.

Truth- is all that God is and does.

Conclusion:

Jesus, was God robed in flesh and he entered this world robed in flesh and was visible seen for one reason and one reason alone.

Romans 5:8–10 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Give the gospel with a Christmas spin.