Title: The Nativity of Immanuel / John 1:14
Contents If there is one expression of truth that is at the peak of a grand mystery, like the spiritual peak of Everest in the Himalayas among the earth villages God has given us, it would be John 1:14.
[The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth]. It represents the 'Christmas of Immanuel'.
Christmas of Emmanuel! that is
I. The Word became flesh.
In 1:14, it says [the Word became flesh...].
The word here means [the Word from the beginning] in John 1:1. It means 'the Word with God', that is, 'the Word that is God Himself'.
It means [the Word that created all things] (1:3), [The Word that is life] (1:4), and [The Word that is the light of men] (1:4).
It is the word that refers to 'Jesus Christ' himself. Then, this expression of truth that [the Word became flesh] means that Jesus, who is [the only begotten God] (John 1:18), [begotten].
Here, [becoming]( ) means to become fully human just once. It is said that [the Word ( , Jesus)] became [flesh] ( ).
This statement does not mean that ① the Logos became flesh, but that he took on a perfect body (body + soul). ② It means that He came in the flesh, but He came with the divine nature of God. ③ Although he himself was without sin, he was sent in the likeness of sinful flesh, to be condemned for our sins (Romans 8:3), and to be cursed (Galatians 3:13) ④ He became flesh It means that God has come to be revealed to us (1:18). That is why it is said that those who have seen Jesus have seen God (John 14:9).
Here [Word] (Logos) is his divinity, and [becoming flesh] means his innocent, holy humanity. He was a perfect God (God) and became a perfect man.
Even now, he is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
The infinite self-existent became finite. The invisible Eternal appeared in visible form. The Transcendental One has come among us. Those who were far away are now near.
Beings outside the human realm have become able to see into the realm of human life.
He came to be able to see those who could not be seen by the nature of the 'Word' (Logos) by taking the 'Flesh'. It tells us that it is the 'Christmas of Immanuel'. It is the famous doctrine of incarnation that only Christianity has.
II. To dwell among us.
1:14 also says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This reveals the purpose of becoming incarnate.
The Word (Logos) became flesh to [dwell among us].
Here, [dwelling]( ) means 'dwelling in tents'. It means that you are temporarily (provisionally) staying in the human body like a 'tent' (2 Corinthians 5:1, 4, 2 Peter 1:3).
These words are closely related to the people of Israel's wilderness tabernacle. It was a symbol, and now a prototype appeared. The fact that Jesus (the Word) became a man and lived temporarily for 33 years shows the fulfillment of the Old Testament model of the tabernacle. In comparison,
① The tabernacle was temporarily installed.
It was not as permanent as Solomon's temple. The tabernacle was a simple tent and was installed by moving it from place to place in less than 40 years. This was just like the temporary life of the Lord's 33-year life on earth, when the Word became flesh.
② The tabernacle was for use in the wilderness.
When they settled in the land of Canaan, the tabernacle was destroyed and replaced with a temple. It is foreshadowing the life of the incarnation of our Lord. It reminds me of the manger cradle, the son of the carpenter of Nazareth, the Galilean, and the tombs here today, there tomorrow, and also borrowed graves. It shows his temporary incarnation life with no place to put his head.
③ Outwardly, the tabernacle was shabby, shabby, and had no attractive appearance.
It was in contrast to the ornate temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. Indeed, that was the life of Hwa-Yuk. He had no form, no appearance. There was no beauty that people could admire (Isaiah 53:2). So, to those Greek iron men, the carpenter of Nazareth was only seen as humble to the powerful Romans.
④ Nevertheless, the tabernacle was the dwelling place of God.
The tabernacle was located in the middle of the tents of the twelve tribes of Israel. And the presence of the pillar of fire and cloud showed that God was present in the tabernacle of the Israelites. God made His presence known among the people in His holy glory in the tabernacle. And from that house he led the people's march in the wilderness. Indeed, the incarnate Jesus came and went to and fro in the middle of the land of Israel, and we could see the holy presence of God in His words, actions, and lives. And he showed people the way to go.
⑤ The tabernacle was a place where God met people.
The tabernacle has become a 'place of meeting' (Exodus 25:21, 22). Yes. Jesus Himself, who came as a man, became the mediator for sinners to meet God directly. So no one could come to the Father except through him (John 14:6). There is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). This is because Jesus Himself is both God and man.
⑥ The tabernacle was the center of the Israelites (the church in the wilderness).
The 12 tribes of Israel camped on the four sides of the tent (Numbers 1:50). The Levites in charge of the priesthood lived near the tabernacle. The movement and order of the marches of all Israel, as well as the order of the marches, were always centered on the tabernacle (Numbers 11:24, 25). The tabernacle was the center of the holy gathering of Israel. This shows the purpose of the incarnation of the incarnation centered on our Lord Jesus Christ. It reminds me of the words of the Lord, where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them (Matthew 18:20). The incarnation of Jesus Christ became a new era in history. It has become the center of history.
⑦ The tabernacle was the place where the revelations of the law were kept.
The Law, which was the life charter of the people of Israel, which Moses received at Mount Sinai, was placed in the ark and stored in the sanctuary. The Lord, who was incarnate, came under the law, lived under the law, and became a sin offering according to the requirements of the law. He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law. So, on the cross, [I am finished], the fulfillment of the law and the fulfillment of atonement were called (John 19:30).
A great and essential truth is that the purpose of the Word becoming flesh was 'to dwell with us'. It shows that it is the Christmas of 'Emmanuel'.
It was for God to be with sinners (Matthew 1:23). So, Jesus became a 'savior of sinners', a 'friend of sinners', and a 'sharer with sinners'.
III. He showed full glory.
Again 1:14 says: [...we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth].
People (disciples) could directly witness that he, who is God (god), came as a man. Nevertheless, he said that the man was seen as the glory of God Himself. He said that he was able to witness the full glory in the flesh.
What was the content of the full glory that they had witnessed and experienced with the naked eye?
1. It was the glory of being full of grace.
'Grace' is a free gift. It is a free gift. The grace of the sunlight freely given by God is full of the whole world. The grace of the air that God freely gives is full of the whole world. Water (water), which accounts for 80% of our human body, is full of grace.
However, the grace of the Word becoming flesh was the gift of forgiveness for the salvation of sinners.
In John 3:16 it says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
2. It was the glory of being full of truth.
Jesus Himself is the truth. That is 'salvation', that is the truth God revealed to sinners. God's love for sinners is the truth. It is the truth that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to save that sinner. The truth is that his Son Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for sinners' sins to save them. And the truth is that He was resurrected to justify sinners.
This is not any scientific truth. It's not a literary truth. Of course not any mathematical truth. It's not some sort of moral truth. This is the truth of the gospel that has brought salvation to sinners who are about to die.
So, in Hebrews 2, it is said that he came into the world as a man (1) to get rid of Satan, who has held the power of death, (2) to set free all those who are enslaved by that Satan, and (3) to support Abraham's descendants (the elect). Hebrews 2:14-15). So it is said that he atoned for the sins of the people (the elect) (Hebrews 2:17).
In Matthew 1:21 it says, “You shall give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Therefore, Christmas is Immanuel, who brings the joy of salvation to sinners. The fullness of grace and truth is the grace of salvation.
Dear saints!
God became man! And the people of this world met, saw, spoke, commended, and lived with Him who had been a man for 33 years!
This is by no means the real body of Jesus' incarnate body, not a spirit walking around like a ghost. He was actually a real, historical person who experienced hunger, fatigue, sorrow, pain, and thirst.
He lived 33 years in time and space for the atonement of sinners. And he died on the cross, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven. He is the living Christ, who then sits at the right hand of the throne of God, and now his Spirit has returned to the world and dwells among us.
So, with his birth, the eras of history were divided into B.C. and A.D. His birth marked a new watershed in human history. Since then, the era of world history has already left a record of 1994. Who, and for what reason, would deny the historical era of 1994? I can't.
The reason is that the event of Jesus Christ is a fact that happened in history.
It is the Christmas of Emmanuel.
He who was the Word became a man.
Its purpose is to dwell with us. He who dwells with us is to show the glory of being full of grace and full of truth.
In other words, it is to show the glory of the fullness of salvation.
Blessings to those who believe.
- Amen-