“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 word was made flesh. This curious phrase is made a little clearer from the opening verse of this chapter. The One who is called “the Word” is identified as God. So, verse 14 declares that the eternal God, creator of the universe, who is spirit, was made flesh, that is – became man. His name is Jesus. As you know, this is the wonderful event that we celebrate every December 25th.
The story of Christ’s virgin birth is one that is so familiar that perhaps it loses its wonder. However, when you really consider it, it is truly wonderful and quite amazing. I love Christmas because it brings back that wonder. The wonder of angel choirs filling the sky. The wonder of the star that led the magi to Bethlehem. The wonder of the babe lying in a manger.
I always enjoy our church services, but never more than during the Christmas season.
I love the Christmas hymns that help us to voice the wonder of Christmas each year. My personal, all-time favourite is Hark the Harold Angels Sing, though I have several close seconds. Charles Wesley captured the essence of Christmas, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity, pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.”
Jesus wasn’t born in the sense that He began to exist 2000 years ago. He was made flesh, but had existed in eternity past. He existed in heaven, in splendour, in glory, surrounded by angels and heavenly bliss. Yet, He chose to “dwell among us” in this fallen world.
In heaven He was worshipped. Here He was despised. In heaven He experienced no pain, here He suffered hunger, rejection, torture and death.
Why did He become flesh and dwell among us? Because of His infinite love for us. To redeem us from our sin. To give us eternal life.
In the words of Wesley, “Mild he lays his glory by, born that men no more may die; born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.”
Each year it is my prayer that, despite all of the hustle and bustle of the season, we don’t lose the wonder of what we celebrate, the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour!
Merry Christmas.
Tom Kline is the pastor of Castlegar Baptist Church.
