THE WORD BECOMES FLESH
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.
John 1:14 (ESV)
Think of the profound things many of us get to experience in life. We breathe air into our lungs and our bodies can fight sickness and disease. We can make a call and connect us to people on the other end of the world. You can literally buy a ticket and fly, something that wouldn’t have been imagined in Jesus’ day. Our galaxy is almost limitless, yet earth is really the predominant life on a tiny dot, and the conditions had to be perfect for us to live here. There are everyday miracles that we take for granted. As great, as these things are they don’t compare to what we read in John.
The opening verses of John present one of the most profound mysteries of the Christian faith: the Word becoming flesh. This simple yet powerful declaration captures the essence of God's redemptive plan—God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, taking on human nature to live among us, die for us, and rise again to offer us eternal life.
He is not a mere thought or concept, but a person who existed before time began. In Greek, the term Logos is used for Word, which carries the sense of divine reason or wisdom. The Logos is the creative force of the universe; the means by which everything was made.
Then comes the stunning moment in John’s gospel: The Word became flesh. God, in His infinite majesty, took on the limitations of humanity. He was born in a humble manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. He experienced the full range of human emotions and suffering. He walked, ate, slept and wept. Yet, He remained fully God, without sin, revealing the divine nature of God through His life and actions. God did not stay distant or detached from the pain and brokenness of humanity. He entered it. He entered our world. He lived among us. He showed us the way to God, not by pointing to a distant truth but by embodying it in His own life.
John emphasizes that Jesus, the Word made flesh, was full of grace and truth.
APPLICATION: Take a moment to marvel at modern life—talking to loved ones worldwide, traveling across continents in hours, and witnessing incredible scientific feats. Nothing compares to the miracle John describes: The Word becoming flesh. Jesus came to be close to us, showing God’s love in a tangible way we can touch, hear, and follow.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to us in human form. Thank You for revealing the fullness of grace and truth through Your life. Help us to respond to Your love by drawing near to You, and may we reflect Your glory in the world around us. In Your name, Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?