“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:1-3,14).
Mark’s gospel says absolutely nothing about Jesus’ birth.
Matthew provides us no details about the actual birth either but informs us of the visit of the Magi and the terrible massacre of the sons of Bethlehem that followed.
Luke is filled with rich details that complete the Christmas story we all love to hear. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the manger, swaddling clothes, Simeon and Anna, frightened shepherds and singing angels. All these details come from Luke’s Nativity narrative.
Then there’s John who’d certainly read Luke & Matthew but decided to go back to “the beginning,” beyond creation, to unveil the true identity of this “barn-born baby.” John introduces us to Jesus as “The Word,” our Creator, the true God through whom all things were made.
Then comes verse 14. John drops a beautiful truth bomb on us as he tells us, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Just to be clear, when we look at the infant held by Mary and protected by Joseph, we’re seeing God at the very moment He “incarnated” (“took on flesh.”) Charles Wesley’s Advent Hymn says it best:
“Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate deity,
Pleased as man, with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.”
Well said Charles … “WORD!!!!”
God didn’t “send” us a Savior. God came in person to “become” our Savior.
I don’t understand this, but oh, how I LOVE it.
