John 1
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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.
God's Word in the Old Testament was his self-expression. Here, the apostle John is referring to the Word as God's ultimate self-expression, Jesus Christ. If we are to know God, we need to look at Jesus. Jesus is God and God is Jesus.
God loved the world so much that he provided a way for all of us to know him and be reconciled to him. God took on human form and moved into our neighborhood. God walked and talked among his people, demonstrating the full extent of his love. We have seen the Father through the life of the Son.
Let's take a moment and read this classic Christmas text from Matthew 1:18-24 and then we will return to today's focus verse, This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).
Jesus was Immanuel, meaning God with us. Christmas is not simply about a little baby being born and laid in a manger. Christmas is about God coming down to be with his people, to live among us, and to demonstrate the full extent of his love. Everything that Jesus did, from healing people, feeding people, loving the poor and the outcast, dying on a cross, and defeating death through the resurrection, illustrated God's incredible, amazing love for his people. We could go much deeper than that, there is certainly a great deal more to say, but I'm going to stop there for today. Spend some time in prayer and simply think about the wonder of the incarnation.
Let's pray...God, Thank you for taking on human form, enduring suffering and shame, to demonstrate your love for us. Christmas came at just the right time 2000 years ago and it's coming at just the right time now. We need you. We need to experience and know your love and grace. Thank you, Jesus. In Your Name, Amen.