The Word Became Flesh

by Fran Geiger Joslin

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God…
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 1:1, 2, 14)

My mind recently calculated the meaning of the words in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh.” And he “dwelt among us.” I’ve heard those words so many times that I rarely stop to think about them anymore.

The author of the book of John refers to Jesus Christ as “the Word.” Jesus Christ–God’s son—arrived on earth as a human infant. He literally put on flesh to be born as a human being. He not only put on human skin, but he humbled himself to become a baby who spent nine months in a woman’s belly. We’re told he was smart and wowed the rabbis with his knowledge as a child, but he still began his human life as a needy newborn. His parents marveled at his cuteness and would’ve taken pictures just like we do if they owned a camera.

Sometimes we don’t stop to think enough about what Jesus gave up in order to become flesh and live among us. We know he gave up his rights. He submitted to his Father, obeying his direction to come to earth. Philippians 2:8 tells us “he humbled himself by being obedient to the point of death.” Luke 22 tells us he didn’t want to die. In fact, although he came to earth for that very purpose, he begged God to not make him die. He did submit to the Father, however, and gave up his life for a greater purpose.

The one thing Jesus did not give up? Being God. Our finite minds can’t quite comprehend how he could remain God but become human as well. It might seem to us like he either has to be God or man. Jesus lived as both. He lived with human flesh and human emotion, which allowed him to feel pain both physically and emotionally, but he never lost what made him God.

He literally lived among us. In the TV series The Chosen, creator Dallas Jenkins beautifully shows Jesus’ humanity. He cuts himself and dresses a wound. He tires after a long day of serving others. Jesus jokes with the disciples, and even gets a little annoyed with them at times. He was fully human, but also fully God.

I recently wrote about how God created Adam and Eve, intending to live with them. God’s desire all along was to dwell with his people. When Adam and Eve sinned, it broke the relationship with God and made it no longer safe for them to stroll with God in the garden of Eden. This relationship between God and man remained broken for a very long time.

Jesus came to earth to heal the divide between God and man. Coming to earth allowed him to dwell among us again. He walked and talked with humankind. He felt the pain of life on earth. He cared for, and healed those who were sick. And then he did the unimaginable! He gave up his life that we could live eternally with him.

And here is the real reason for Jesus’ birth:

 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.…the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. (Luke 1: 32, 35)

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

Good news! We have a savior who saves us from our sins!

Merry Christmas to all!