1/7/11 John 1:14 God Became Flesh

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.

Madonna and child Adriaen_Isenbrant_1530

Thoughts: There are four parts to this brief but very powerful verse:
1) The Word became flesh- that is God became human.  The Divine intersected humanity. 
2) He made His dwelling among us- the word is "tablernacled" or "tented" (ESKENOSIN).   God came to be with us- to live among us, walk among us, breathe our air, feel our pain, experience the joys and sorrows of being human.
3) We have seen his glory.  Here the author testifies that he is an eyewitness.  He saw with his own eyes that Jesus was not an ordinary man, but indeed God in the flesh.
4) Came from the Father full of grace and truth- Jesus had a strong sense of mission.  Part of that mission was to be gracious and truthful. But God's grace and truth were very manifest in Christ's coming. 
John is adding amazement after amazement- miracle after miracle here.

Prayer: Lord, we believe the witness for we too have experienced your grace and truth first hand.  Thank you for coming to us.

John Calvin Abridged: That the evangelist says the Speech was "made flesh" and not just "made man" tells us even more about Christ's humility for us.  For the word "flesh" (not the corruption of the flesh used by Paul) refers to our mortality.  So Ps. 78:39 says "He rembers that we are flesh" or Isaiah 40:6 "All flesh is grass."  Christ is seen here as true God and true man with each nature distinct from the other.  Christ remained in the flesh as a guest (tabernacled), not that his flesh was his permanent home.  He is the fount of all grace and truth.