The Word Became Human

 

John 1:14
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 first two gospels (Matthew and Mark) were written between 50-60 AD. Then Luke came after, around 60-61 AD. Matthew and Luke give us our traditional story of the baby born in a smelly barn, and Mark moves fast and jumps right in at the baptism of Jesus. Perhaps even in the early years of the church people thought mostly of the lowly human side to the incarnation. After all, it’s a side we most naturally relate to. So when John writes his gospel twenty to thirty years later, it’s a very different side of the same coin. We don’t even find out who he is writing about until verse 17! 

John describes a being he calls “the Word” in such awe-inspiring language that it doesn’t sound like a human being at all. Let’s consider John’s words, as if for the first time.

• The Word existed in the beginning (v1) – so he’s really old, that’s pretty cool. Some kind of really old being became a human.
• The Word was with God in the beginning (v1) – so he’s powerful and on God’s side, with direct access to God too. That’s important to know.
• All things that were made were made through The Word (v2-3) – wait a second. So, he wasn’t just there at the beginning – he wasn’t created then, but was a creator. He’s really powerful and designed and created every single particle upon which he then built everything in the vast universe? That creator-being became a human? This is getting interesting.
• In him was life and that life was the light of men (v4), the true light, which gives light to everyone (v9) – so he not only has jaw-dropping power, there is some kind of special life in him that is shining forth to everyone – there is no place this light cannot touch or reach. What is this life? Any stipulations on getting it from him?
• To all who receive him, who believe in him, he gives the right to be called children of God, born of God (v12) – so the Word has power from God, but also the authority to change humans into children of God – that is incredible! Yet not for all people, but only those who believe in him. Makes sense. This must have been an amazing being to see. What was that like?
• Verse 14 says “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.” So when John lived with the Word he saw a unique glory from God – a glory shining full of grace and full of truth, like no other being ever has. Can you imagine seeing that? And yet, he became human, he became flesh, not just a god looking like a human.
• John the Baptist, a prophet of God, saw this glory. The first time he saw The Word, he cried out “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (v29) I can’t take away a single sin from myself, let alone the world. Who is this being!? I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the next verse said the Word was a giant man with a gold sash, white hair, bronze legs, eyes like a flame of fire, a two-edged sword coming from his mouth and a face like the sun shining in full strength!
• He actually does show back up looking exactly like that in Revelation, but Verse 29 actually says, “he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’” So the Word…is Jesus!?

You mean this elaborate introduction is all about the cute, helpless baby born in a smelly barn? That’s the Word? The being John is describing and saying you have to believe in to be called a child of God? The unattractive, poor, Jewish rabbi who died as a criminal? Yes.

You see, he was born to do the work of a lamb, so his power is veiled in weakness and humility. He will do the work of a Lion one day and will come dressed in terrible beauty. So, embrace the kindness and approachability Jesus offers when you look into his patient, forgiving, human eyes, but do not fail to also see the powerful fire of heavenly holiness and of cosmic creation burning there.