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The Word Became Human
John 1:14
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.
The first two gospels (Matthew and Mark) were written between 50-60 AD. Then Luke came after, around 60-61 AD. Matthew and Luke give us our traditional story of the baby born in a smelly barn, and Mark moves fast and jumps right in at the baptism of Jesus. Perhaps even in the early years of the church people thought mostly of the lowly human side to the incarnation. After all, it’s a side we most naturally relate to. So when John writes his gospel twenty to thirty years later, it’s a very different side of the same coin. We don’t even find out who he is writing about until verse 17!
John describes a being he calls “the Word” in such awe-inspiring language that it doesn’t sound like a human being at all. Let’s consider John’s words, as if for the first time.
You mean this elaborate introduction is all about the cute, helpless baby born in a smelly barn? That’s the Word? The being John is describing and saying you have to believe in to be called a child of God? The unattractive, poor, Jewish rabbi who died as a criminal? Yes.
You see, he was born to do the work of a lamb, so his power is veiled in weakness and humility. He will do the work of a Lion one day and will come dressed in terrible beauty. So, embrace the kindness and approachability Jesus offers when you look into his patient, forgiving, human eyes, but do not fail to also see the powerful fire of heavenly holiness and of cosmic creation burning there.
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By Nate Ayres
5
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John 1:14
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.
The first two gospels (Matthew and Mark) were written between 50-60 AD. Then Luke came after, around 60-61 AD. Matthew and Luke give us our traditional story of the baby born in a smelly barn, and Mark moves fast and jumps right in at the baptism of Jesus. Perhaps even in the early years of the church people thought mostly of the lowly human side to the incarnation. After all, it’s a side we most naturally relate to. So when John writes his gospel twenty to thirty years later, it’s a very different side of the same coin. We don’t even find out who he is writing about until verse 17!
John describes a being he calls “the Word” in such awe-inspiring language that it doesn’t sound like a human being at all. Let’s consider John’s words, as if for the first time.
You mean this elaborate introduction is all about the cute, helpless baby born in a smelly barn? That’s the Word? The being John is describing and saying you have to believe in to be called a child of God? The unattractive, poor, Jewish rabbi who died as a criminal? Yes.
You see, he was born to do the work of a lamb, so his power is veiled in weakness and humility. He will do the work of a Lion one day and will come dressed in terrible beauty. So, embrace the kindness and approachability Jesus offers when you look into his patient, forgiving, human eyes, but do not fail to also see the powerful fire of heavenly holiness and of cosmic creation burning there.