John 1:14-18

And the Word became flesh…and dwelt among us!

1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Our words matter. Choose them carefully. They may be the only words that a person hears of their Savior.

John 1:14-18

14 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. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. The New King James Version

The symbolism of verse1 continues by describing how the logos took on human form. This depiction of the logos as a personal being in human flesh is a reversal of the philosophical concept of the logos as an impersonal principle or force. 

The emphasis on the “flesh” could be an attempt to correct misunderstandings about the humanity of Jesus present in the early church. One of the earliest christological heresies from the second century ad was Docetism, which held that Jesus was fully divine and only appeared human and only appeared to die on the cross. The idea that divine beings could appear in human form was common in the ancient world, so John seems to take extra care to emphasize that Jesus was human, not that He merely appeared in human form. The later christological heresy of Arianism emphasized Jesus’ humanity at the expense of His divinity, claiming He was a created being. 

Through His Son, God is taking up a post among His people just as He had done for ancient Israel. In the Old Testament Yahweh’s presence could be found in the tabernacle or temple. The glory of Jesus, the Word, is the same as the glory of God the Father. 

John’s use of monogenēs foreshadows the emphasis on the intimate relationship between Jesus and God the Father. Jesus is the unique and beloved Son of God, sent from God to fully represent the Father on earth and reveal the Father and His plan for salvation in a previously unparalleled way. 

The Son reflects the Father perfectly and perfectly carries out His will. The close relationship of Father and Son means their works and will are in perfect unity. Alluding to two central attributes of the divine character used throughout the old testament: steadfast love and faithfulness. Jesus embodies the ultimate expression of God’s covenant loyalty and unmerited favor toward the world that rejected Him. 

Throughout his Gospel, John presents Jesus as the fulfillment of old testament  expectations. The world will fully see God only as revealed through Jesus. Faithlife Study Bible

The Word Was God. John 1:1 is probably the strongest passage in the New Testament for declaring the deity of Jesus Christ. The first chapter of John reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Greek scholars are agreed that the verse should be translated as it regularly is in modern and ancient translations, clearly affirming that Jesus is indeed God. 

As God manifested His glory in the tabernacle, so Jesus displayed His divine presence before the apostles.

All who trust Christ are born of God. In the Gospel of John, these “born ones” are called children of God, but Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God. He is the only Son who is fully God. He is also full of grace and truth. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He proclaimed Himself to be “abounding in goodness and truth”. As applied to Jesus Christ, this phrase marks Him as the author of perfect redemption and perfect revelation. 

Jesus was born after John the Baptist and began His ministry later than John the Baptist. Yet John the Baptist said Jesus was before him, meaning that Jesus’ existence is from eternity past. The NKJV Study Bible.

Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.  As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came after John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearly shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. 

Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace; we have received “even grace,” a gift so great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness, or strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, but it cannot supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Father but by him; no man can know God, except as he is made known in the only begotten and beloved Son. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 11:27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,