<\/p>\n
The Word Became Like Us<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Word became flesh\u2026\u201d Here of course is not a reference to the sinful nature of man that we sometimes call \u201cthe flesh.\u201d It is a reference to the physical body of flesh. This is one of the most astounding acts of God in the Bible. The Word who was in the beginning, the Word who was with God, and the Word who was God – the Word through whom all things were made and without Him was not anything made that was made – the Word in whom was life, and the life was light of men, became flesh. This is one of those things that ought to awe us more than it does, and I think the disconnect is because we just can\u2019t wrap our minds around it. To be honest, I feel utterly inadequate to preach such a passage. The Eternal One, the Creator of all from everlasting to everlasting, the Holiest of All, the Alpha and the Omega, the Great I AM, came to earth, and enfleshed himself to be like His creation.<\/span><\/p>\n As Charles Spurgeon so simply and profoundly put it, \u201cThe infinite became infant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Or as A. W. Pink puts it, \u201cThe invisible became tangible\u2026 that which was far off drew nigh\u2026 Here we are permitted to see through a veil that, which unveiled, would have blinded us\u2026 He did not cease to be God, but He became man\u2026 His deity, though veiled, was never laid aside; His humanity, though sinless, was a real humanity…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A. W. Pink gets at an important point for us to note here. The Word, when He became enfleshed, did not cease to be God. He did not stop being anything that He was before. In fact we see this right there in verse 14. It says \u201cThe Word became flesh and dwelt among us\u201d – there is the humanity. Then it says, \u201cand we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth\u201d – there is His deity! Not only do we see His deity in the title of Son, but also in that John describes Him as \u201cfull\u201d of grace and truth. Being full of grace and truth is not a human characteristic. The Son of God did not pour out even a portion of His deity in becoming flesh. Jesus is not a half and half mix of God and Man. He becomes flesh, and He\u2019s \u201cfull\u201d of grace and truth. Truly God, truly man.<\/span><\/p>\n Why is it important that the Word became flesh? There are probably many things we could say. But I will give you two.<\/span><\/p>\n First, it\u2019s important that the Word became flesh, for His work as a mediator between God and man. A mere man is not able to save himself, let alone the whole of God\u2019s elect. But He also had to put on flesh so that He could live righteously for us. A. W. Pink makes a remarkable point on this subject, \u201cThis union of the two natures in the Person of Christ was necessary in order to fit Him for the office of Mediator\u2026 it was now possible for Him to die.\u201d<\/em> The Word had to become flesh so that it would be possible for Him to die. He had to die for us! The enfleshing of the Word made that possible.<\/span><\/p>\n Second, it\u2019s important that the Word became flesh, because through that He is able to sympathize with us in our weakness. As Hebrews 4:15 tells us, \u201cFor we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Word Dwelt Among Us<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the Word became flesh refers to the incarnation of Christ, so I believe John is referring to the time when Jesus physically walked the earth in his 33 years when John says that He \u201cdwelt among us.\u201d The word here means that He \u201ctabernacled among us.\u201d There is an undeniable connection here to the Old Testament tabernacle. What was the tabernacle? It was the dwelling place of God with His people, a tent, essentially, where sacrifices were made as Israel traveled throughout the wilderness. The type-antitype relationship between the Old Testament tabernacle and the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among His people is rich. We would be remiss if we did not consider this connection.<\/span><\/p>\n The tabernacle was temporary as it traveled throughout the wilderness. Was Jesus Christ not here for a short amount of time, just 33 years, as he traveled from place to place?<\/span><\/p>\n The tabernacle was the meeting place of God and man. Jesus Christ is the meeting place of God and man. He is the mediator of God and man. He is the only way for sinners to approach God. He is the way in which God mercifully condescends to sinners like us.<\/span><\/p>\n The tabernacle was the place where man went to worship God, offering his sacrifices. Jesus Christ, is the person where man goes to worship God. It is only in and through Jesus Christ that we worship and approach God rightly. As the sacrifices were offered up in the tabernacle. So in Jesus Christ, was our full and final sacrifice offered up to God – the very body of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n Compared to the physical beauty and splendor of the temple, the tabernacle was very common looking. So was our Lord Jesus, as it tells us in Isaiah 53:2, \u201che had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Finally, in the tabernacle, in the holy of holies, in the ark of the covenant, the two tablets of the law that were given to Moses were kept. Likewise, in Jesus Christ, was the law of God perfectly kept and preserved, in His teaching, and His life of righteousness for us.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Word Revealed God to Us<\/b><\/p>\n Why has no one ever seen God?<\/em><\/p>\n Verse 18 tells us that no one has ever seen God. Here are two reasons why:<\/p>\n He Is Spirit, the Invisible God.\u00a0In our Hope Baptist Catechism, part 2, question 3 asks, \u201cWhat is God?\u201d<\/em> The answer is, \u201cGod is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being\u2026\u201d<\/em> The answer goes on further. Jesus says in John 4:24 in conversation with the woman at the well, that \u201cGod is Spirit.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He is Holy, we are sinners.\u00a0Sin cannot stand before a Holy God.\u00a0<\/span>Think of Moses in Exodus 33-34, he asked Yahweh, \u201cShow me your glory.\u201d God only passes by him, his back side, while Moses is covered in the cleft of the rock, and Yahweh\u2019s hand covering him, because no one can see God and live.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Understanding the nature of God in this way is important, because, among other reasons, it teaches us how God can be known. God is known through self-revelation. Not man discovering God or finding Him out. This is important. We know God because He has revealed Himself to us. Not because we have reasoned to Him. This is important to evangelism and apologetics.<\/span><\/p>\n Christ to us, the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, is God\u2019s self-revelation to mankind. How is God made known to us in Christ? Here are a few ways:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n His Physical body being physically seen. Herman Ridderbos puts it this way,\u00a0\u201c\u2018Flesh\u2019 is clearly not the means by which the glory of God is concealed in the man Jesus but the means by which it is revealed\u2026 the flesh is the medium of the glory and makes it visible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n His teaching. He taught with the power and authority of God, because He was.<\/p>\n His Works (healing, miracles, righteousness, crucifixion, resurrection).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Colossians 1:15 it tells us, \u201cHe is the image of the invisible God\u2026\u201d Referring to Christ there of course.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How did the disciples see the glory of the Word made flesh?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Consider just a few ways here: Transfiguration, M<\/span>iracles,\u00a0<\/span>Authority in Teaching,\u00a0<\/span>Crucifixion,\u00a0<\/span>Resurrection, and most importantly by seeing these things through faith. There were many others who witnessed Jesus do these things (except the transfiguration), and yet they did not see the glory as of the only Son from the Father. They hated and rejected Him. Why? Because they did not see Him with the eyes of faith. And that is what ultimately counts at the end of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n From all of this we see that God is a God who comes to us, because we cannot make our way up to Him. There is no stairway to heaven for us to climb. <\/span><\/p>\n While verse 14 was referring specifically to the time when Jesus dwelt among the disciples in His life on earth, it is also true that Christ continues to dwell the believer. Because of His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the Holy Spirit\u2019s indwelling the believer, Christ is with and dwells among us. He will never leave you nor forsake you. No matter the pain, or struggle, or difficulties you may be going through in life, as a believer, Jesus Christ is with you. He has made His dwelling place in the hearts of His people. Remember that He came and enfleshed Himself so that He might be able to sympathize with our every weakness and temptation. In His enfleshing He underwent the greatest pain and suffering on the cross, so that He might make His dwelling place in you. Because Jesus Christ dwells in us, we will dwell with Him forever. <\/span><\/p>\n Furthermore, not only in the individual Christian, but in the gathered Church, the corporate body of Christ where the Word is preached and the sacraments are administered is Christ present and dwelling in the world. This is one reason we are to not forsake the gathering of the saints. There is a special dwelling of Christ\u2019s presence in the corporate Word and sacrament. In the Lord\u2019s Supper we have the enfleshing of the body of Christ if you will. Of course we do not believe it is His literal physical body when we eat and drink. What I mean is that the Lord\u2019s supper is a physical, tangible, sign of the enfleshed body of Christ that was broken and bled for us.<\/span><\/p>\n Let us know today that God loves us to the point that He sent His Son, to take on flesh, to be our righteousness, our sacrifice, and our sympathizer. It is not a cold theological truth, it is a message of love. That\u2019s how far God went to save us and love us. Let us know the love of God in the incarnation of His Son.<\/span><\/p>\n Along these lines, let this turn our hearts to warm worship and great doxology.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ll leave you with one final thought from this. The Word becoming Flesh teaches us that there is nothing inherently wrong the physical, but actually, that the physical is good. Do you know that Christ will forever be embodied in His physical, glorified, risen body? In eternity, we will be living in physical bodies; not floating around as spirits on the clouds. No, we will be in physical bodies, living in a renewed and redeemed physical earth. Our Lord Christ will forever be embodied in the flesh, dwelling among us, as we dwell with Him. That is one reason we have fellowship meal and eat and drink together. We will be doing so in a perfect redeemed way, forever. Oh Christian, let that stir your heart\u2019s affections for the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Word Became Like Us \u201cThe Word became flesh\u2026\u201d Here of course is not a reference to the sinful nature of man that we sometimes call \u201cthe flesh.\u201d It is a reference to the physical body of flesh. This is one of the most astounding acts of God in the Bible. The Word […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":3739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,25,30],"tags":[173,184,205,250,274,281,301,381,465,504,557,562,619,646,678,679,687,699,721,765,766,867,1014,1052,1056,1105,1114,1206,1226,1237,1361],"class_list":{"0":"post-3737","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-commentary","8":"category-faith","9":"category-preaching","10":"tag-baptist","11":"tag-became","12":"tag-bible","13":"tag-calvinist","14":"tag-christ","15":"tag-church","16":"tag-commenntary","17":"tag-disciple","18":"tag-exposition","19":"tag-flesh","20":"tag-god","21":"tag-gospel","22":"tag-hope","23":"tag-incarnation","24":"tag-jenkins","25":"tag-jesus","26":"tag-john","27":"tag-joshua","28":"tag-knowledge","29":"tag-lord","30":"tag-lords","31":"tag-new","32":"tag-rags","33":"tag-revealed","34":"tag-riches","35":"tag-scripture","36":"tag-sermon","37":"tag-supper","38":"tag-testament","39":"tag-theology","40":"tag-word","41":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/04\/bible.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4284,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-image-of-the-invisible-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":3737,"position":0},"title":"The Image of the Invisible God","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"December 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Colossians 1:11-15 reads, \u201cMay you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/faith\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/mountains-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/mountains-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/mountains-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/mountains-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/mountains-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/12\/mountains-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3722,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-deity-of-christ-john-11-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":3737,"position":1},"title":"The Deity of Christ: John 1:1-3","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"March 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Introduction \u00a0 John\u2019s gospel reads quite differently than the three synoptic gospels. John is thematic and theological. Not to say the others are not of course, just that John is overtly so. There are many things in this fourth gospel that are unique to it - meaning there are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3628,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/do-not-love-the-world-commentary-on-1-john-215-17\/","url_meta":{"origin":3737,"position":2},"title":"Do Not Love the World: Commentary on 1 John 2:15-17","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"September 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Introduction \u00a0 We often hear it said that Christians are to be all about love and acceptance. We are to love anything and everything about anybody with no distinctions, no judging, and no nothing. While it is true that Christians are to be known by their love, it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/09\/1571826-city-coast-party-fog-high-rise-river-skyline-china-photocase-stock-photo-large.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/09\/1571826-city-coast-party-fog-high-rise-river-skyline-china-photocase-stock-photo-large.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/09\/1571826-city-coast-party-fog-high-rise-river-skyline-china-photocase-stock-photo-large.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/09\/1571826-city-coast-party-fog-high-rise-river-skyline-china-photocase-stock-photo-large.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4022,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/how-can-this-man-give-us-his-flesh-to-eat-reformed-experiential-religion-john-648-59\/","url_meta":{"origin":3737,"position":3},"title":"“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Reformed Experiential Religion; John 6:48-59","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"48\u00a0I am the bread of life.\u00a049\u00a0Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and\u00a0they died.\u00a050\u00a0This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it\u00a0and not die.\u00a051\u00a0I am the living bread\u00a0that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/3aafd5a8-5410-4de4-be65-b5ef234e28ee.f6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4027,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/lord-to-whom-shall-we-go-john-660-71\/","url_meta":{"origin":3737,"position":4},"title":"Lord, to Whom Shall We Go? John 6:60-71","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 60\u00a0When many of his disciples heard it, they said, \u201cThis is a hard saying; who can listen to it?\u201d\u00a061\u00a0But Jesus,\u00a0knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them,\u00a0\u201cDo you take offense at this?\u00a062\u00a0Then what if you were to see\u00a0the Son of Man\u00a0ascending to\u00a0where he was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/sylwia-bartyzel-135274.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/sylwia-bartyzel-135274.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/sylwia-bartyzel-135274.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/sylwia-bartyzel-135274.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/sylwia-bartyzel-135274.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6260,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-radical-reformation\/","url_meta":{"origin":3737,"position":5},"title":"The Radical Reformation","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"January 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio Zwickau Prophets In 1521, three preachers from Zwickau arrived in Wittenberg while Luther was hiding in the castle Wartburg. These men, along with Carlstadt were responsible for the chaotic destruction and violence that broke out before Luther returned. They claimed to have direct revelation from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Church History"","block_context":{"text":"Church History","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/church-history\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/anabaptist-890x680-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/anabaptist-890x680-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/anabaptist-890x680-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/anabaptist-890x680-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3737"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3737\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}