The writer of the Gospel of John was one of Christ’s closest colleagues, along with Peter and James. In John 1:14, John writes these iconic two sentences. "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."

In his later book, 1 John 1:1-3, he starts his letter with a similar statement. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

In both of these letters, John is emphasizing the truth of the incarnation where God became man in order that the lost creation could be again in fellowship with the creator. This was an extraordinary act for those God created had rebelled against Him and turned their backs on Him. Yet, even knowing this outcome, God had created humankind despite knowing that the cost of that renewed fellowship would be the death of His only Son, Jesus. 

And so, God became man in the ultimate act of humility and love. The phrase, from John 1:14, that “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us," can literally be translated, “He came and pup-tented among us.” The God of the universe, being born in a stable, welcomed by the pungent smell of manure and the stares of cattle, looking unknowingly at their own creator. 

The word incarnation refers to the act of God sending His Son to live among us: fully human and yet fully divine. In all other religious systems, the lost creation works to become good enough to please their God. In Jesus, God lowered himself to become one of us and become our sacrifice for sin - so that we could know God. He did the work, not us. In the incarnation, the one who knew no sin chose to bear our sin so that we could be justified and sanctified through Him.

Here is an amazing thing. The Son of God chose to take on our bodies and live in our world. In doing so, he chose to fully identify with us and the circumstances we face. He knows. He was here. And, when we see him face to face He will still have his body, only now a glorified body with the nail scars in his hands, his feet and the spear scar in his side. Not only did he choose to identify with us in time but He will do so through all eternity. 

Father, no one could write a script like this except you. Thank you for the love that compelled you to choose incarnation for my sake and for the sake of all who put their faith in you. Words cannot convey my appreciation. Amen!