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. –John 1:14
This verse describes attributes of Jesus. He was fully God, fully human, full of grace and full of truth. Jesus was fully God as part of the Trinity. As used in the Greek language, “word” can refer to words as in spoken and written language, but also to words not spoken (a reason or thought). When applied to the universe, “word” means the material principles that rule over all things. The Jews used “Word” as a means of referring to God. John’s use of “the Word” communicated to everyone that Jesus was God.
“Became flesh” states that a transition took place. When Jesus was conceived, God became fully human—not part human and part God. Flesh emphasizes Jesus’ humanity in our present frail, mortal condition.
John then states Jesus dwelt among us. Some translations use the term “tabernacle,” which indicates He pitched His tent among ours. Through Jesus, God became visible and tangible—a God we can get our arms around. In the Old Testament we read of God appearing, usually to one person for a certain reason (such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and Gideon) but in Jesus, God lived day-to-day among us. He experienced joy and sadness, pain and anger, hunger and thirst.
Jesus showed His glory in the miracles and signs He performed. He showed His power over nature, as God did in creating the universe. Turning water into wine, feeding the five thousand, healing people, and His own resurrection all point us to His glory!
Jesus is the “one and only,” God’s unique and only Son, one of a kind.
Full of grace—He is God’s gift to us because of His great love. He walked among us and sacrificed Himself so we may have everlasting life with Him.
God’s Word made flesh is “full of truth,” without blemish or deceit.
As we approach Christmas, we celebrate God’s gift of Himself to us in Jesus, the perfect expression of God in human form.
-Lynn Heinold
