IN THE FLESH

John 1:14 (NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

            I was very excited and nervous. President Gerald Ford was scheduled to visit Wheaton College. The Wheaton Men’s Glee Club, of which I was a member, was selected to sing for him. The prospect of actually seeing the President of the United States up close was exhilarating. We practiced with greater enthusiasm and intensity as the day drew near. Then the day came, and there I was seated on the stage, just a few feet away from where the President would stand. Edman Chapel was abuzz with excitement as the gathered crowd waited in eager anticipation for the President’s arrival. No one knew exactly at what moment he would come or from which door he would emerge. Then someone gave the signal, the band began to play Hail to the Chief, and the doors at the back of the chapel flung open to reveal the President. He strode down the center aisle, smiling and shaking hands. Then he mounted the steps and took he seat on stage, just a few feet away. I could hardly believe my eyes. There was the President of the United States, in the flesh.  

            There is something powerful about encountering a person in person. You can read about them, and even observe them from afar, but nothing compares to meeting them “in the flesh.”

            As John began to write his gospel account of Jesus’ life, he chose to focus on the reality and glory of the incarnation. Matthew and Luke chose to begin their gospels with the nativity. Mark skipped Jesus’ birth altogether and began with the inauguration of Jesus’ public ministry. John took a very different approach.

            John began with words that would have resonated in the hearts of every Jew who read them; “In the beginning.” Those words transport us back to Genesis 1:1. John doesn’t start his account at the birth of Jesus, but before time itself began. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John was looking at Jesus through a telescope. Jesus was far away, unreachable, incomprehensible. He focused on the majesty and glory of the one who was, before anything came to be.

            Then the doors of heaven are flung open and the most amazing thing happens. The Word shows up on earth “in the flesh.” John makes three very important points about this heavenly invasion.

            The Word became flesh. There has long been a debate over the exact nature of Jesus. Was he divine? Was he human? Was he somehow both? John makes it very clear that the Word took on human form and became like us. Paul expands on this in Philippians 2. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV)

            The Word made his dwelling among us. The unapproachable God became approachable in Jesus. He wasn't like the Wizard of Oz who hid himself behind a facade of smoke and mirrors. Jesus lived life with us, among us, like us. Hebrews tells us that he faced all the challenges of life that we face. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

            The Word revealed his glory. So many prominent people live behind an artificial façade that hides the real person. John says that he was an eyewitness to the reality of Jesus. He walked with him and experienced life’s challenges with him. Through all of John’s experiences with Jesus, what showed through was the glory of God. Jesus wasn't one person in public and another in private. Jesus displayed his glory in every situation.

            There are many amazing things about this time of the year. The Christmas story is full of human drama and delight. It warms our hearts. It invites us into the joy of new life and hope for the future. But the most amazing thing of all about Christmas is that the Word became flesh. The eternal one became temporal and invited us to encounter him. The helpless baby, who was dependent upon a young girl, was the very one who created all that there is!

            The true message of Christmas is that we have seen God “in the flesh!”