John 1:14-15 - The Incarnation of the Word of God

John 1:14-15

14 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. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’”

Message: The Incarnation of the Word of God

Time: Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As I have stated, to me, it is puzzling that John uses "Word" to describe Jesus. I often think that so much could have different if he would have simply said Jesus and yet as today's text states, the Word became flesh. The one that was "in the beginning" and "with God" and "God" and "in the beginning with God" and "all things came into being through Him" -- this Word, this one "became flesh." How much more clear can it be said? That God/Jesus became flesh, "dwelt among us" and "we saw His glory." 

Jesus lived on this earth, the God-man, so that we could be alongside him and yet in Him we saw God's glory. We saw the bright light, but visible in a way that we could see Him. 

And this is the one "John testified about." I don't think there can be any confusion that John is not on the earth to testify of himself but all glory and focus is to be on Jesus. 

Summary: The Word - Jesus - became flesh to dwell among us and through Him we see God's glory. 

Promise: Under the old covenant, the glory of God took up residence in the tabernacle and the temple (Ex. 40:34; 1 Kings 8:1–11), and this is the very same glory seen in Christ. 

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of Your Word and reminding me of the clarity of who You are. You Jesus were at creation in the beginning and You are God and You came to dwell among us. You are worthy of my worship, always. Thank you for this truth and that I can testify of You as well.