.The Word Was Jesus

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 The Word was Jesus

Scripture: John 1:14 (ESV)

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.

Devotion:

In the opening chapter of John’s Gospel, we encounter a profound and mysterious proclamation: the Word became flesh. This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of the Christian faith — the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 tells us that the eternal Word, who was with God and was God (John 1:1), chose to take on human form and live among us. This act of divine condescension, a profound expression of God's love, reveals His desire for an intimate relationship with humanity. The Greek term "dwelt" used in this verse literally means "tabernacled" or "pitched His tent." This imagery hearkens back to the Old Testament, where God's presence dwelt among His people in the Tabernacle. Just as God was present among the Israelites, He now dwells among us in the person of Jesus Christ.

The incarnation is a cornerstone of our faith because it signifies that God is not distant or detached from our experiences, but rather, He is Immanuel — God with us. In Jesus, we see the fullness of God’s glory, which John describes as being "full of grace and truth." This glory is not an abstract concept, but a tangible reality manifested in Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Jesus' ministry on earth displayed God's grace through acts of compassion, healing, and forgiveness, and His teachings and life embodied the ultimate truth about God's character and His kingdom. This tangible reality of God's glory in Jesus reassures us of His constant presence and love.

Furthermore, the incarnation affirms the inherent dignity and worth of human life. Jesus sanctified the human experience by taking on flesh and demonstrating that our bodies and lives are valuable to God. This truth challenges us to live in a way that honors the sanctity of life and seeks to reflect Christ's love and grace to others. It motivates us to take responsibility for our actions and strive to be a reflection of Christ's love and grace in the world.

As we meditate on John 1:14, let us marvel at the mystery of the Word made flesh. Let us rejoice in the reality that God o us so profoundly that He became one of us. And let us be inspired to live out the grace and truth of Jesus in our daily lives, knowing that through Him, we have seen the very glory of God.

Prayer:

            Lord, we marvel at the person and work of Jesus. It challenges our imagination to think of one who was in heaven with the Father and would agree to become a baby human with all the frailty and weakness of childhood. Yet Jesus did just that to free us from our sin by taking it for us and being willing to give up His life on the cross. But Jesus did just that for us. Let us rejoice that our salvation has been guaranteed because of his sacrifice. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

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