The Burnett County Church of Christ
Located in Webster Wisconsin
Located in Webster Wisconsin
Weekly Article
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Printed: April 20, 2009
The Word Became Flesh
The book of John begins by telling us, (vv. 1-5) 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 came into being through Him,
and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the
Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. What could the
world or darkness not comprehend? In (v.14) John says, “And the Word became 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.” This is
something the world can’t seem to comprehend. That the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth?” That is the question that Solomon asked as he dedicated the
temple in 1 Kings 8:27. God’s glory had dwelt in the tabernacle, and then later in the temple… but that
glory departed from Israel because of their disobedience. John tells us in (v.14) that the Glory had
returned… with the coming of Christ; “the Word became flesh & dwelt among us.” He makes it clear that
the Son of God came in the flesh and was subject to all the infirmities of human nature. For example, in
(Chapter 4), John shows us that Jesus was weary [4:6] and thirsty [4:7]. In (Chapter 11) He groaned within
[11:33] and openly wept [11:35]. Then, in (Chapter 19), on the cross, Jesus thirsted [19:28], died [19:30],
and bled [19:34]. Finally, in (Chapter 20) after His resurrection, Jesus made a point of proving to Thomas
and the other disciples that He still had a real body [John 20:24-29]. Jesus took on Himself human flesh and
identified with us, as humans, in every aspect of life from birth to death. I want us to look at 4 ways Jesus
understands what it is like to be human.
Jesus understands what it is like to be a young person. (Read Luke 2:40-52) He grew as a child (Luke 2:40);
He was curious. He wanted to be involved with things that mattered to Him. (Luke 2:43); He dealt with
parents and honored them (Luke 2:48-51, Ephesians 6:1-3); Jesus, like any child grew (Luke 2:52); Jesus
understands what it’s like to be a young person… dealing with people around Him while walking in God’s
way.
He also understands what it’s like to deal with temptation. (Read Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus dealt with
temptation. He dealt with the devil, face to face and He did it, without sinning. But, some might ask; this
was just 3 things, at just 1 time in His life. How can we know Jesus was tempted in all points as we are?
Hebrews 4: 15 says; For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but
One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. – (KJV says; He is touched with the
feeling of our infirmities.) Because He has been tempted in ALL things just as we are, He can help us,
because He never responded sinfully to those temptations. Jesus showed us that we can overcome
temptation by remembering scripture, God’s word. Jesus understands what it’s like to deal with
temptation… and He understands what we have to deal with when He asks of us to be obedient.
Jesus also understands rejection and being alone. In (John 6:66) As a result of teaching that they found too
difficult to deal with, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. In (Mark 8:
31), Jesus told His disciples that he would “be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed…” In (Luke 22) Jesus was betrayed by one of His twelve disciples and denied by another, one of His
closest. In (Luke 23) Crowds of His chosen People shouted “Crucify Him” in response to Pilate’s question.
Their response sentenced Him to death upon the cross. (Read Matthew 27:27-46) WHAT A REJECTION
IT WAS!
In that ultimate rejection we can know how much… Jesus understands about pain and suffering. If His
statement of being left alone is not enough, just read the accounts of His beating and scourging. When you
research the history behind these words… BEATING… SCOURGING… it’s enough to turn your stomach.
REMEMBER, you’re just reading about it… He endured it!
The question we must ask ourselves is; WHY did He come and dwell with mankind, enduring all that He
did and sacrificing what He did? He did it… for us (Read John 3:16-17 and Romans 5:6-11). Christ came and
dwelt among us… So He could experience life with us… So He could be tempted like us…So He could set
an example of how to resist temptation for us. He dwelt among us… So He could hurt… could suffer, be
rejected, be abandoned… DIE and be RESURRECTED. He dwelt among us… SO THAT HE COULD
SAVE US!
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from
the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) Jesus dwelt with us to offer salvation… This is the truth we
must never forget.
The Word Became Flesh
The book of John begins by telling us, (vv. 1-5) 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 came into being through Him,
and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the
Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. What could the
world or darkness not comprehend? In (v.14) John says, “And the Word became 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.” This is
something the world can’t seem to comprehend. That the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth?” That is the question that Solomon asked as he dedicated the
temple in 1 Kings 8:27. God’s glory had dwelt in the tabernacle, and then later in the temple… but that
glory departed from Israel because of their disobedience. John tells us in (v.14) that the Glory had
returned… with the coming of Christ; “the Word became flesh & dwelt among us.” He makes it clear that
the Son of God came in the flesh and was subject to all the infirmities of human nature. For example, in
(Chapter 4), John shows us that Jesus was weary [4:6] and thirsty [4:7]. In (Chapter 11) He groaned within
[11:33] and openly wept [11:35]. Then, in (Chapter 19), on the cross, Jesus thirsted [19:28], died [19:30],
and bled [19:34]. Finally, in (Chapter 20) after His resurrection, Jesus made a point of proving to Thomas
and the other disciples that He still had a real body [John 20:24-29]. Jesus took on Himself human flesh and
identified with us, as humans, in every aspect of life from birth to death. I want us to look at 4 ways Jesus
understands what it is like to be human.
Jesus understands what it is like to be a young person. (Read Luke 2:40-52) He grew as a child (Luke 2:40);
He was curious. He wanted to be involved with things that mattered to Him. (Luke 2:43); He dealt with
parents and honored them (Luke 2:48-51, Ephesians 6:1-3); Jesus, like any child grew (Luke 2:52); Jesus
understands what it’s like to be a young person… dealing with people around Him while walking in God’s
way.
He also understands what it’s like to deal with temptation. (Read Matthew 4:1-11) Jesus dealt with
temptation. He dealt with the devil, face to face and He did it, without sinning. But, some might ask; this
was just 3 things, at just 1 time in His life. How can we know Jesus was tempted in all points as we are?
Hebrews 4: 15 says; For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but
One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. – (KJV says; He is touched with the
feeling of our infirmities.) Because He has been tempted in ALL things just as we are, He can help us,
because He never responded sinfully to those temptations. Jesus showed us that we can overcome
temptation by remembering scripture, God’s word. Jesus understands what it’s like to deal with
temptation… and He understands what we have to deal with when He asks of us to be obedient.
Jesus also understands rejection and being alone. In (John 6:66) As a result of teaching that they found too
difficult to deal with, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. In (Mark 8:
31), Jesus told His disciples that he would “be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed…” In (Luke 22) Jesus was betrayed by one of His twelve disciples and denied by another, one of His
closest. In (Luke 23) Crowds of His chosen People shouted “Crucify Him” in response to Pilate’s question.
Their response sentenced Him to death upon the cross. (Read Matthew 27:27-46) WHAT A REJECTION
IT WAS!
In that ultimate rejection we can know how much… Jesus understands about pain and suffering. If His
statement of being left alone is not enough, just read the accounts of His beating and scourging. When you
research the history behind these words… BEATING… SCOURGING… it’s enough to turn your stomach.
REMEMBER, you’re just reading about it… He endured it!
The question we must ask ourselves is; WHY did He come and dwell with mankind, enduring all that He
did and sacrificing what He did? He did it… for us (Read John 3:16-17 and Romans 5:6-11). Christ came and
dwelt among us… So He could experience life with us… So He could be tempted like us…So He could set
an example of how to resist temptation for us. He dwelt among us… So He could hurt… could suffer, be
rejected, be abandoned… DIE and be RESURRECTED. He dwelt among us… SO THAT HE COULD
SAVE US!
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from
the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) Jesus dwelt with us to offer salvation… This is the truth we
must never forget.