The Word Became Flesh

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 1:1-18

 

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

(NKJV)

 

Some believe that John had a special friendship with Jesus, referring five times in the Gospel of John to “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20). While this could be viewed as pride and arrogance on the part of John, it was not until John 21:24 that John revealed this disciple was himself. I do not believe John was arrogant, believing he was the only disciple Jesus loved but instead revealing his knowledge and experiencing the love of Jesus during the time he spent with him. As we study the Gospel of John, it is my prayer that we will, like John, experience the deep love of God for us.

 

Similar to Genesis 1:1, John 1:1 begins with a declaration that the Word of God was in existence at the beginning of creation and was with God. The text then refers to the Word as He who was in existence in the beginning and the one who created all things (John 1:2-3). Life was in Him, the Word, with this life the light of men (John 1:4). This light shines in the darkness with darkness unable to comprehend it (John 1:5).

 

John, the Baptist, was a man sent from God to bear witness to this Light with the purpose that all might believe through this life-giving light (John 1:6-7). John was not the Light but the witness of the Light giving light to every man coming into the world (John 1:8-9). However, even though the Word was in the world that was made by Him, the world did not know Him (John 1:10). Even those who were given the Word, the Jews, did not receive Him (John 1:11). However, those who chose to receive Him have the right to become children of God and receive new birth, not of the flesh but of God (John 1:12-13).

 

The Word of God became flesh so humanity could behold the Glory of God through Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14). This is the one pointed out by John as the one was preferred over him because he existed before John (John 1:15). We have all received of the fullness of the Word become flesh with the law coming through Moses but grace and truth through Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17). While no man has seen God, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ has declared Him (John 1:18).

 

This text makes a distinction between Jesus and the other prophets and teachers in the world. Jesus is God whereas the other prophets and teachers were spokespeople for God. John makes this distinction by,

 

1. By declaring that the eternal Word of God has existed since the beginning (John 1:1-5) – John does this by personifying the Word with the pronoun He, declaring that He was with God and that He was the creator of all things. The personified Word was both light and life.
2. John the Baptist was the witness of the True Light (John 1:6-13) – John was the final prophet sent to declare the identity of the True Light coming to the world. John was not the light but let people know the word become flesh, Jesus Christ. However, the world and even the Jews would not accept him but that those who did would become children of God.
3. The Word becomes flesh (John 1:14-18) – John then declares that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and God himself has become flesh, dwelling with us, making it possible for us to see the glory of God and God Himself.

 

Jesus is God, an undeniable fact, and something Jesus called the Church to declare (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Unfortunately, in many Churches today, the teaching teaches Jesus as a personal assistant whom believers can use to receive whatever they want or need. Granted, Jesus taught His followers to pray for the provision of their daily bread (Matthew 6:11), but this does not mean we can use Jesus to get whatever we want. Jesus came because God loved sinful humanity and sent Jesus to die for sinful humanity's sins so they can have eternal life (John 3:16). This deep love from God is the theme of the Gospel of John and something believers should worship and not use as cheap grace for personal gain.

 

I pray that as we study this gospel, we will have a greater connection with the love of our Heavenly Father that Jesus Christ personified in the flesh. Our response to this deep love should be worship of our merciful and gracious God who fulfilled his promise of redemption of fallen man through Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15). The Church must repent of using Jesus Christ for personal gain and begin lifting Jesus up in worship, drawing people into a relationship with Him (John 12:32).

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.