“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14)
The Apostle John opens his gospel with a majestic echo of Genesis 1, proclaiming, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Yet, in verse 14, he leaps forward thousands of years to declare that this same Word “was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
This incarnation—God taking on human nature—is the pivotal moment in history, foretold by prophets like Isaiah, who, over 600 years earlier, promised, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us]” (Isa. 7:14). The Creator, who spoke the universe into existence, humbled Himself to dwell among His creation, revealing His glory and grace in human form.
The incarnation was God’s deliberate act of infinite wisdom, mercy, and love to rescue humanity from the abyss of the fall (John 3:16; Isa. 53:6). For Christ to serve as our Mediator, He had to become like us, taking on human flesh while remaining sinless. As Philippians 2:8 states, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
His sinless humanity, united with His divine nature, enabled Him to bear God’s wrath and satisfy divine justice. Only perfect God could become perfect man, offering a sacrifice of infinite value to atone for sin (Isa. 43:25; Heb. 2:10-17). John Owen noted, “That the nature which had offended might suffer, and make satisfaction, and so he might be every way a fit and sufficient Savior for men.”[1]
Christ, the only begotten Son, became the firstfruits of all who are adopted into God’s family and made joint heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17). His death secured our freedom from sin’s condemnation, His resurrection opened the way to eternal life, and His ascension assures us of our heavenly destiny. The incarnation is the cornerstone of redemption, proving that God’s love is indeed personal, embodied in the One who dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
Contemplations:
- Mystery of the incarnation. This mystery of the incarnation of Your Son was completed that he might be in all points like us, yet without sin. As the angel spoke to Mary, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,” (Luke 1:35). The overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Highest brought this wonderful miracle to pass. This mystery is as great a mystery as that of the Trinity—that God was manifest in the flesh. Jesus Christ assumed the cloak of humanity so that He might be my Savior. What a wondrous, humbling thought Lord!
- Christ, our head and bridegroom. The Incarnation of the Word is integral to the Gospel: God and man, two natures in one person. He is the head of His body, the one who joins His members to Himself and to His Father as adopted children, the bridegroom who through His bride, the Church, provides the sacramental means whereby He shepherds His flock. He is God omnipotent who through His infinite love for us became man, an unsurpassed act of humility that we, His disciples, are to model.
- Timely mercy and grace. How seasonable was this work of mercy and grace to save sinful man, both in its general exhibition to the world in the incarnation of Christ and in His particular application of it to the soul of every lost sinner by the Spirit! Your timing in sending Your Son reveals Your perfect love, and I long to reflect that love in my life.
Prayer (Adoration)
O eternal and gracious God, You are the Creator of all, whose Word spoke life into existence and whose love became flesh in Jesus Christ. Your glory shines in the incarnation, where divinity united with humanity to redeem a fallen world. I worship You for Your infinite wisdom, sending Your only begotten Son to dwell among us, full of grace and truth. Your mercy, displayed in His humble birth and sacrificial death, overwhelms me, for You bridged the chasm of sin to make us Your children.
I confess that I have often failed to marvel at the mystery of the incarnation. My heart has been dull to the wonder of Your Son’s humility, taking on flesh to save me. I have not always modeled His obedience, choosing my own way instead of Yours. Forgive me for these sins, for taking Your grace lightly. Cleanse me through Christ’s blood and keep me in awe of Your redemptive plan.
Lord, I plead for grace to adore You as the God who became man. Fill me with wonder at the miracle of Christ’s incarnation, as Luke 1:35 declares. Help me follow His humility by submitting wholly to Your will as He did. Let Your Spirit apply His saving work to my soul, transforming me into His likeness. Use me to proclaim the gospel of Immanuel, God with us, that others may know Your love. And keep my heart fixed on the glory of Your Son until I see Him in eternity.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further References for John 1:14:
Heb. 2:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 John 4:2; Phil. 2:7.
[1] John Owen, Dr. John Owen’s Two Short Catechisms (London: Printed for and sold by Will. Marshal .., 1700), 28.
