[John 1:1-5,9-14] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…
9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God’s Word Became Flesh
“Actions speak louder than words”, we say. We probably can’t say that about God in exactly the same way we say it about each other – because His Word is always true. But God has more than put His Word into action.
God has been speaking from the beginning – and His Word is more that just words. God’s Word – His speaking – is a person, God-with-Him. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
In the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – that second person, the Son, is the very Word of His Father.
Through His Word, God made all that was made – “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
His Word is the light and life of men. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” – though men did not know Him.
God cannot deny or break His Word because His Word is God – God with Him. God cannot deny Himself nor can He be broken. (This is why Scripture, the Bible, is undeniable, unbreakable – because it is the Word spoken to us, in words.)
God’s Word is a word of both commandments and promises. When God’s commandment was violated by man, sin entered the world – and death through sin – and then God’s Word, His promise of a Savior was spoken.
Century after century, sin and death ruled mankind – as a whole, with war and trouble in every age – and individually, with all the ruin it brings to our body and soul.
And century after century, God’s promise remained a word spoken that we were waiting for – waiting for the Word of promise to be kept.
Then, in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Caesar Augustus [Luke 2:1], God more than put His Word into action. His Word became flesh – a Man – dwelt among us, and lived all that was spoken.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.”
The Word which was with God from the beginning and which is God took on flesh – a fully human nature, body and soul – from the Virgin Mary – “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” – and was born in Bethlehem to be the long-awaited Savior. God kept His promise and put His Word into action for your salvation.
“This is good news of great joy that will be for all people” [Luke 2:10] – people of every nation – “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
The actions of the Word-made-flesh speak loudly. He was born to a lowly family, lived unnoticed by most of the world – though the world made through Him – was despised and rejected by men, those He came to save —
— and, by His suffering and death upon the cross in our place – He absolved the world of sin – and conquered death by His death —
— and gives new life, a new creation, by His resurrection, which He now causes to be born in you – to those “born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
God is a Man of His Word. It would be enough if He simply promised and only spoke the words. But it is something much more that all He has commanded and all He has promised has become flesh and has walked among us.
And Christ still lives. The Word of the Father is still that One born in Bethlehem. All that God has promised you is that Person, Christ the Savior, who still lives and reigns for you. He is not just a memory about a child but is “with you always” [Matthew 28:20].
The Word of God made flesh, born in Bethlehem, is still with you – in His Word. And He is still with you in His flesh and blood – His body and blood in and with the bread and wine. The Word became flesh and dwells among us.
Every hearing of the Word of God – and every celebration of this Supper – is Christmas. Every Bible is a manger. Every time you come to hear His Word, you are those shepherds in the field who came to see the Word in swaddling clothes.
All of God’s promises to you have been completed in His Word made flesh. He cannot deny them because He cannot deny Himself – nor will He ever ignore the sacrifice this Child born has made for you. Amen.
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