The Glorious Incarnation of the Word
“And 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.” John 1:14
“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity!” These words from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing capture the soul-stirring mystery of Christmas. The eternal Word of God, who was with God and who was God (John 1:1), took on flesh. He entered into our broken world—not in thunderous power or overwhelming glory, but as a baby wrapped in humility.
John 1:14 is one of the most profound verses in all of Scripture: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” These words are not simply beautiful; they are revolutionary. They proclaim a truth so staggering that our hearts must either rise in joyful worship or retreat in stunned rejection. The infinite has become finite. The Creator has stepped into His creation. The God who holds the stars in place has entered the fragility of human life.
The Glory of the Word
John begins his Gospel by lifting our eyes to the majesty of Jesus: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Before there was time, before there was space, before the first molecule of matter existed, the Word was. He was eternally with God, distinct from the Father yet fully divine, the second person of the Trinity. Through Him, all things were made, and without Him, nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3).
And yet this Word—the eternal, all-powerful, glorious Creator—became flesh. Let that sink in. The One who flung galaxies into existence took on human nature. The One who is infinite clothed Himself in limitation. The One who has no beginning and no end entered into time. He did not come as a symbolic presence or a temporary vision. He came fully, truly, permanently. He became like us in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Glory Hidden, Glory Revealed
And what did the world see? “We have seen his glory,” John writes, “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). But this glory was not what the world expected. It was not the kind of glory that turns heads and demands applause.
The glory of Jesus was veiled in humility. The God of all majesty, who spoke the heavens into existence, was born in a manger. The eternal Creator of life entered the womb of a virgin, submitting Himself to the frailty of human birth. The King of kings, who reigns over all creation, walked the dusty roads of His own world, among the people He had formed. His glory was not revealed in the ways the world esteems—wealth, power, or status—but in His flawless character, His boundless love, and His unwavering mission to redeem.
The full revelation of this glory came not in a palace but on a cross. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), bore the wrath of God in our place. This is the glory of grace and truth. Grace, because He came to save us while we were yet sinners. Truth, because He did so without compromising God’s holiness or justice.
Why the Word Became Flesh
Why did the Word take on flesh? Why would the eternal Son of God enter into the brokenness of this world?
First, He came to reveal God to us. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” In Jesus, we see the very heart of God—His holiness, His mercy, His justice, His love. To see Jesus is to see the Father (John 14:9).
Second, He came to redeem us. Humanity’s greatest problem is not ignorance, poverty, or injustice—though those are real and tragic. Our greatest problem is sin. Sin separates us from God, corrupts every part of our being, and leads to eternal death. We cannot fix this problem on our own. No amount of good works or moral effort can bridge the gap between us and a holy God.
So God came to us. The Word became flesh so that He could live the life we should have lived—perfectly obedient to the Father—and die the death we deserved to die. On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment for our sin, satisfying God’s justice and offering us forgiveness and new life.
Finally, He came to dwell with us. The word “dwelt” in John 1:14 literally means “tabernacled.” Just as God’s presence filled the tabernacle in the Old Testament, so now His presence is fully and permanently among us in Christ. And this presence is not temporary. Jesus promises, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
The Joy of Advent
So what does this mean for us? It means that Christmas is not just a celebration of the past—it is the declaration of a reality that changes everything.
First, the incarnation gives us joy. If the Word became flesh, then God has not abandoned us. He is not distant, indifferent, or unconcerned. He has drawn near. He knows what it is to suffer, to weep, to be tempted, and to feel pain. Whatever you are facing this Advent season, take heart: the God who became flesh is with you, and He will never leave you.
Second, the incarnation gives us hope. Jesus’ first coming is the guarantee of His second. The God who entered history to redeem us will return to restore all things. The Word who became flesh to defeat sin and death will one day wipe away every tear and make all things new.
Finally, the incarnation calls us to worship. If Jesus is the Word made flesh, then He is not just a figure to admire—He is the King to adore. He does not merely inspire us; He transforms us. Let this Advent season lead you to bow before Him in joyful surrender, to marvel at His grace, and to proclaim His truth.
“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity!” These words from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing capture the soul-stirring mystery of Christmas. The eternal Word of God, who was with God and who was God (John 1:1), took on flesh. He entered into our broken world—not in thunderous power or overwhelming glory, but as a baby wrapped in humility.
John 1:14 is one of the most profound verses in all of Scripture: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” These words are not simply beautiful; they are revolutionary. They proclaim a truth so staggering that our hearts must either rise in joyful worship or retreat in stunned rejection. The infinite has become finite. The Creator has stepped into His creation. The God who holds the stars in place has entered the fragility of human life.
The Glory of the Word
John begins his Gospel by lifting our eyes to the majesty of Jesus: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Before there was time, before there was space, before the first molecule of matter existed, the Word was. He was eternally with God, distinct from the Father yet fully divine, the second person of the Trinity. Through Him, all things were made, and without Him, nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3).
And yet this Word—the eternal, all-powerful, glorious Creator—became flesh. Let that sink in. The One who flung galaxies into existence took on human nature. The One who is infinite clothed Himself in limitation. The One who has no beginning and no end entered into time. He did not come as a symbolic presence or a temporary vision. He came fully, truly, permanently. He became like us in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Glory Hidden, Glory Revealed
And what did the world see? “We have seen his glory,” John writes, “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). But this glory was not what the world expected. It was not the kind of glory that turns heads and demands applause.
The glory of Jesus was veiled in humility. The God of all majesty, who spoke the heavens into existence, was born in a manger. The eternal Creator of life entered the womb of a virgin, submitting Himself to the frailty of human birth. The King of kings, who reigns over all creation, walked the dusty roads of His own world, among the people He had formed. His glory was not revealed in the ways the world esteems—wealth, power, or status—but in His flawless character, His boundless love, and His unwavering mission to redeem.
The full revelation of this glory came not in a palace but on a cross. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), bore the wrath of God in our place. This is the glory of grace and truth. Grace, because He came to save us while we were yet sinners. Truth, because He did so without compromising God’s holiness or justice.
Why the Word Became Flesh
Why did the Word take on flesh? Why would the eternal Son of God enter into the brokenness of this world?
First, He came to reveal God to us. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” In Jesus, we see the very heart of God—His holiness, His mercy, His justice, His love. To see Jesus is to see the Father (John 14:9).
Second, He came to redeem us. Humanity’s greatest problem is not ignorance, poverty, or injustice—though those are real and tragic. Our greatest problem is sin. Sin separates us from God, corrupts every part of our being, and leads to eternal death. We cannot fix this problem on our own. No amount of good works or moral effort can bridge the gap between us and a holy God.
So God came to us. The Word became flesh so that He could live the life we should have lived—perfectly obedient to the Father—and die the death we deserved to die. On the cross, Jesus bore the punishment for our sin, satisfying God’s justice and offering us forgiveness and new life.
Finally, He came to dwell with us. The word “dwelt” in John 1:14 literally means “tabernacled.” Just as God’s presence filled the tabernacle in the Old Testament, so now His presence is fully and permanently among us in Christ. And this presence is not temporary. Jesus promises, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
The Joy of Advent
So what does this mean for us? It means that Christmas is not just a celebration of the past—it is the declaration of a reality that changes everything.
First, the incarnation gives us joy. If the Word became flesh, then God has not abandoned us. He is not distant, indifferent, or unconcerned. He has drawn near. He knows what it is to suffer, to weep, to be tempted, and to feel pain. Whatever you are facing this Advent season, take heart: the God who became flesh is with you, and He will never leave you.
Second, the incarnation gives us hope. Jesus’ first coming is the guarantee of His second. The God who entered history to redeem us will return to restore all things. The Word who became flesh to defeat sin and death will one day wipe away every tear and make all things new.
Finally, the incarnation calls us to worship. If Jesus is the Word made flesh, then He is not just a figure to admire—He is the King to adore. He does not merely inspire us; He transforms us. Let this Advent season lead you to bow before Him in joyful surrender, to marvel at His grace, and to proclaim His truth.
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