The Word Became Flesh

Over the last few weeks I have been reflecting on what is perhaps one of the greatest pieces of writing in the Bible. Fifty-one verses that are so full of incredible depth, vivid imagery and profound theology– the first chapter of John’s Gospel is certainly amazing!

Whenever we read scripture one of the questions that should be at the forefront of our minds is: "What does this tell me about God’s Character?" John 1 says a lot about God’s character and also Jesus’ nature as the Word of God who was there at the beginning and through whom all things were made, He is the Light (a word used five times in the first nine verses) and life is in Him. 

Many claim that there cannot be a loving God because of the suffering in the world. They assume that God sits on a distant throne allowing the suffering in the world without empathy, remorse or the willingness to respond in action. 

But God has acted which we see described by four of the most remarkable words in the Bible: The Word became Flesh.

John 1:14 reads, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God did not, and does not, ignore suffering. He responded by sending us Jesus to dwell among us; Emmanuel, God with us.

This is the kind of God we worship, a God who is present, a God who is not afraid of suffering,  a God who “emptied himself” by sharing in human likeness. 

From the garden, through the wilderness, the temple, the exile, The Messiah, the Spirit and the new temple, we can see God has always wanted to be with us, to dwell among us. Emmanuel, what a remarkable God! 

So come and journey towards Bethlehem and find the God who is with us– the Word became Flesh and behold His glory full of grace and truth born a baby in a manger.

Stephen