The Word Made Flesh
John 1:10-18 January 2, 2005
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
CCI: When the Word became flesh, God opened the way for us to know God.
Intro: I remember eating at a seafood buffet several years ago that was absolutely amazing. When I went to the table where the food was being served, I was blown away by the choices. There was lobster bisque, there was an alligator tail casserole, there was whitefish and walleye and cod. There were crab legs and clams and shrimp and crayfish. And the table seemed to stretch forever. Deciding where to begin was almost impossible. So I tasted small portions of almost everything, but still I could not decide what to focus on.
This morning, standing before you with this passage of scripture before me, together with the other passages we read, I feel like I am back at that buffet surrounded by more food than I could ever eat, and with choices that leave you empoverished by their abundance.
John 1 provides for us an overview of John’s gospel. John has been called a river in which children can play safely, and elephants can drown. The simplest truths are presented here while at the same time the deepest realities are unveiled.
This morning, I want us to experience just one of the many dishes from this banquet, it is one of the most profound statements in the gospel and it comes from verse 14: “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. . .”
I. The Word
The expression “The Word” is introduced in verse 1 of this passage. “In the Beginning was the Word.” The word was existent with God, and the word was existent as God. The Word is the sum of God’s self-revelation to humanity. We use words to reveal ourselves. We often choose them carefully so that we give the right impression. Words, while not the exclusive means we have for communicating, are certainly one of the most important.
When chosen carefully, words can touch the heart of people we love. When spoken with authority they can move a nation or a people. When spoken carelessly they can destroy a life. When spoken with compassion they can bring comfort to those who are mourning. John chose this word to describe Jesus because Jesus is the perfectly chosen revelation of God. Not only was he in the beginning, not only was he with God, but John tells us the Word was God.
Today we speak of the Word of God and often we are talking about the written word, or the Bible, and that is accurate, however, the expression must also drive us to the Living word, or Jesus Christ. The Greek is the word “Logos.” In it’s simplest form it means word or declaration. However, it is also an expression from Greek philosophy that spoke of wisdom and truth much the same way the Proverbs speak of Wisdom. Wisdom in the Proverbs is the one thing that we should pursue. Wisdom will bring joy to our parents and it is the source of life which will give purpose to life.
By using this word, John is declaring Jesus to be the complete revelation of God
II. Became Flesh
So the Word became flesh. It does not say the Word became “a man,” but it says, the Word became flesh, completely human, nothing lacking in humanity. The Word was not just hidden in a package of flesh and blood, He was fully human in every sense.
But why? One clue comes from Hebrews 4:15 we read: “This High Priest of ours (Jesus Christ), understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.” Because the Word became flesh, God now understands what it is like to be a human being.
CH Spurgeon, the great British Baptist preacher of the 19th Century wrote:
Infinite, and an infant.
Eternal, and yet born of a woman.
Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's breast.
Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms.
King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph.
Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter's despised son.
JI Packer wrote: “The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation.” Certainly the religious leaders of his day did not expect this. They expected a king, a ruler, a military leader, not the almighty hanging to his mother.
To their surprise, in Jesus God experienced being a human being. So part of the truth of the Word becoming flesh is the reality that God now understands us better.
But that is only one part. The second part, and perhaps the more important part, is that now we can understand and know God. I am not talking about some sudden or secret knowledge. To know God is not say a prayer and suddenly have all understanding. However, because the Word became flesh, we can discover who God is by looking at Jesus. As we learn about Him and come to know Him, we come to know who God is and what God expects of us. To ask “What would Jesus do?” is not simply an exercise in speculation, it is an exploration into the heart of God. Jesus said eternal life is knowing God. The exploration that begins today, will continue to draw us deeper throughout eternity.
The Word became flesh
III. And dwelt among us.
God was in our midst in Jesus. The expression “dwelt among us” could be translated, “pitched a tent in our midst.” Jesus did not try to hide. He was in plain view. He walked and talked and taught and healed in front of the world. In every sense, Jesus became One with us.
“On several occasions, King Abdullah II of Jordan has disguised himself and mingled with his subjects. His rationale for this unorthodox approach is to better understand and serve his people. Taking the character of an ordinary old Arab man, he has appeared in public with a fake white beard, wearing the traditional Jordanian kufiah, and the Arabic white dress. While so disguised, the king walked around two government buildings without security and was not noticed. While waiting in a long line, he engaged people in conversation and listened to their point of view.
“Such incognito appearances have marked the 42-year-old monarch's reign since he assumed the throne in 1999. He disguised himself as an old man previously while visiting a hospital. Another time, he circulated around Amman behind the wheel of a taxicab. Still another time, he passed himself off as a television reporter trying to cover a story at a duty-free shop.
“According to reporter Costa Tadros, "I think that being in disguise and going around as a normal civilian to listen to their problems and know more about their needs is a good thing. I think it would make a great movie."
“Jordanian government employees aren't taking any chances. They have started to spend time looking at people's faces, fearing they could meet the king in disguise at any moment.”
King Abdullah II is not the first king to have tried to become one of his subjects. Jesus did this and more when he became flesh and dwelt among us. Not only did he come to know His creation better, but he came to reveal himself to His creation. And today, the scriptures tell us that Jesus continues to reveal himself in our midst in ways we do not expect. Jesus said, “In as much as you have fed the hungry, and clothed the naked, and visited the stranger you have done it to me. The Jordanian government employees are on to something important for Christians. Just as they have started looking for their king in the faces of common people, so we must look for Jesus in the faces of those who pass our way. Verse 10 said, “he was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world did not know him, he came to his own, but his own did not receive him.”
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Today the Word is still living among us though in a slightly different form. When Jesus came into Bethlehem, he came to serve, today he is in the world inviting us to serve him. When we reach out to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Asia, we serve Jesus. When we open our hearts to the hungry by supporting the food pantry, we welcome Jesus. When we take time to listen to a child and teach them that they are special and important, we receive Jesus. And to as many as received him, even those who believed on his name, he gave the right to become Children of God, children born of God, people who share the life of God.
Jesus has come as the Word made flesh. He lived, he taught, he loved, he died, he rose again, he ascended and he is once more among us in the least of these. Will you receive him today? Will you search the faces of those who pass you by looking for Jesus? We can only see Him if we seek him, and we can only see him if God gives us God’s eyes to see him.
In the comic strip “For Better or Worse”(January 2, 2005) this morning two girls are watching the news. They hear of war, of disease, of earthquake, of revolution and of accident, and are untouched by any of it. Then they hear a story of a kitten that was rescued and their hearts are broken. Without the eyes of God, we will be just as blind as these girls were. Today, ask God to give you a new vision that you may see the Word dwelling among you.
Let us Pray.
For further study on John 1 see the NAB Commentary
See also a sermon by Brian Stoffergen
