This Weeks Notes ~ December 12, 2021
John 1:14“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.”
From one of the most powerful and miraculous statements in all of Scripture, we learn that the very source of all creation, the Word of God, incarnated in the form of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to a virgin in a manger.
J.I. Packer points out in his book, Knowing God, that if one can believe the miracle of the incarnation of God the Son to a virgin, then there should be no trouble believing that he walked on water, fed the multitude miraculously, healed the sick, or raised the dead. The God of the universe is the Word. “The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). That he “became flesh and dwelt among us” is a greater blessing than we could ever comprehend.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of John 1:14
#1 “The Word…”
The Word is a mysterious nomenclature. The Greeks used the term to refer to reason, they were not far off, the reality is that God himself is the source of all reason. The Word, his will and his decrees, his wisdom, his nature, and his ways, were embodied in the Son of God. The Word is the message of God.
#2 “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
Jesus was born, raised, and ministered as a man among people. God first dwelt with Adam in the Garden of Eden before the disobedience of Adam caused him to lose the continuous presence of God and cast out of the Garden. God dwelt by his Spirit in the form of the cloud and pillar of fire in the wilderness after the Exodus. Today, post ascension, God dwells among men in the spirits of regenerated humans who have given their lives to God. “God’s dwelling place [will now be] among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev 21:3).
#3 “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father,”
Jesus was glorified in many ways starting when the Spirit descended on him and the voice spoke from heaven (Mt 3:17). Jesus performed miracles that caused them to fall at his feet in fear and reverence They saw him transfigured on the mountain (But Jesus spoke of his own glorification in John 13:31 as he spoke of his death and resurrection.
#4 “full of grace and truth.”
The fact of the coming of Christ is a testament to the grace of God. Jesus Christ shows us the heart of God for mercy and forgiveness by his acceptance of sinners who repented. I doesn’t matter what sins they had committed. He was full of truth because he is the truth (John 14:6). Believe and follow Jesus, and the truth will make you free.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son, to become the unique ‘God-Man’, Who alone is full of grace and truth. He alone was qualified to become our perfect, Kinsman and Redeemer. Jesus died on the cross as our heavenly substitute for sin. Praise His holy name, AMEN.
“I don’t know how, but I know WHO!”
Grace and Peace, Pastor Nelda
Dr. Nelda Barrett Murraine is pastor at First United Methodist Church – PO Box 146 – 229 W 4th St. – Kennedale, TX 76060
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