Read John 1:14
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.
Digging Deeper
As we read this one verse, what words stand out to you and to me? You may want to circle or underline them. It’s worthwhile our deeper meditation and more than I can write.
As I read this verse, the words of became flesh, dwell, and seen stood out to me. It is astonishing that the Word, being The True Light would go far beyond than just visiting us. He saw the world, if I may say from a distance upon earth, but now He is going to have a close up view of the world. The Word took one further step even further. He took on flesh. He became like one of us. The Word became incarnate into human flesh. He is the God-Man. Who can fathom that!
If that awed us, the Word dwelled among us. The Word didn’t isolate Himself living in sterile environment in the Qumran Community or in a palace. The English word, dwell, in the Greek is tabernacle. It’s not a permanent settlement or housing, but more of a temporary one. It reminds me of the Tabernacle in the Old Testament where Israel carried the Tabernacle. God led Israel by a Cloud by day and the Fire by night. He temporary resided in the Tabernacle.
God was present with His people, but He was not one of the people. Now, the Apostle John says that the Word would become one of His people, being human. He experienced the human limitations of hunger, thirst, and even hurt. He saw temptation and felt it but didn’t give into it. He learned submission to Joseph and Mary. And yes, He saw cruelty, deception, injustice, and sin against one another. The Word had a firsthand experience of being human and experiencing living in mixed culture of Judaism and the Greek-Roman culture. He dwelled among His people without sinning.
As people looked at Him, he was no different than them except that grace and truth always came forth from His lips. He was the “perfect” Jewish boy that every parent wanted-obedient and faithful, compassionate and helpful. Could it be that those who knew Him thought that this is what it means to be in the image and likeness of God? It’s easy to talk about the image and likeness of God, but has anyone ever seen one! Now they have but they didn’t recognize Him for He is the exact representation of God in human flesh. He is the One and One God who took on flesh, having coming from the Father. He was full of grace and truth. God dwell among His people.
Application Thought
Throughout the centuries, people have asked, “Where is God? I don’t see him.” Can it be that He is present with them and they don’t know it? The Scriptures declares that His Spirit dwells in us. Christ lives in us as well as the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be Christ like. If the world doesn’t “see” God, it is because we have cast a shadow over Him. Our sin(s) deflect the glory of God in this world. It distorts the image of God in us. The world wants to “see” God. Jesus Christ dwells in us.
So the question then becomes for us, “Who do people see when they see you and me? Is it Christ or is ourselves?” The world hungers to see a “true” Christian or “see” Christ in us. Can they “see” Christ in you? Let us by the grace of God reflect the image and likeness of God even Jesus Christ in all that we say and do so that grace and truth may flow from our lips as it did when Jesus was on earth.