Title The Word became flesh / John 1:14
Topic: The Word became flesh / John 1:14
(John 1:14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory, the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The text we read today can be said to be the center of the Gospel of John and the center of the entire New Testament.
I. The Word became flesh
This is not to say that the Word was transformed into a human being. Also, Jesus did not actually come because the human body was evil, and we are not talking about a “pseudo theory” that “appears to have come”.
This means that at some point in the past, clearly, Jesus became flesh.
Jesus, who has the divine-human formation, is both God and a man.
II. He dwelt among us.
The reason the Word became flesh is to dwell among us. The word “dwelling” here is a Greek word and a tabernacle in English. It means "to dwell in tents." That is, the Word tented and dwelt among us. Or, “The Word became flesh and set up a tent of meeting among us.” The following words have a special meaning. For the Jews, this word refers to the tent of meeting in the wilderness or the temple of the nation of Israel. This is because the tent of meeting was the spring of worship and the center of their wilderness life.
The tent of meeting was about 45 feet long and 15 feet wide. Divide it in two and put a curtain in the middle In the Most Holy, there was the ark of the covenant, and in the holy place were the golden altar of incense, the table of bread, and the golden candlestick. And there was a large bronze altar and a bronze basin in the inner courtyard. The shape, color, function, and arrangement of these instruments were indicative of spiritual truth. In other words, they were a preview of the role of Jesus Christ.
1. The tent of meeting was the center of the Israeli camp.
In Numbers 2, the places where each tribe of Israel would camp are mentioned. The tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun encamped on the east side of the tent, the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad to the husband, and the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, Benamin, and Dan, Asher, and Naphtali to the north. and set up a tent in the midst of it. If there was a need to rest on the way through the wilderness, a tent was built in the middle, and three tribes each encamped in the east, west, north, south, and east, and the tribe of Levi surrounded the tent.
Also, when proceeding
(Numbers 2:17) Then the tabernacle of meeting, with the camp of the Levites, proceeded in the middle of all the camps, in the order of their camps, each man from his place and according to his banner.
Said.
Just as the tabernacle was the center of Israel, so Jesus Christ dwells among us.
Christ is at the center of our lives, and we must live that life.
2. The tent of meeting was where the law of Moses was kept.
The first stone tablets given by God were broken, but the second stone tablets given the Ten Commandments were kept in the Tent of Meeting. What is God's law? Isn't it the word of God that saves us if we believe and obey it?
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” That is, Jesus, the Word,
Obedience, in order to fulfill the law, he dwelt among us as the perfecter of the law, who perfectly fulfills the law.
(Matthew 5:17) Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I did not come to abolish it.
to make it perfect
3. The tent of meeting was the place where God dwelled.
In the Holy of Holies, there was the glory of Shekinah, symbolizing the presence of God, between the wings of the two cherubim, spreading their wings above the Ark of the Covenant. Shekinah can be called “light,” which refers to the presence of God.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” That is, Jesus came among us as God.
4. The tabernacle of meeting is also a “place of revelation” to announce God and His will.
The tent of meeting was a place where God and man met and talked.
(Leviticus 9:5) And they brought all that Moses commanded before the tent of meeting, and all the congregation came up to the LORD.
Seonjira
Jesus Christ, who became the true tabernacle, came among us as the revealer of God.
(John 14:9) Jesus said, ...he who has seen me has seen the Father...
5. The tent of meeting was also where sacrifices were made.
There was a bronze altar on the east side of the room entering the inner courtyard from the outer courtyard of the tent of meeting, and the sacrifices were often burned. This bronze altar was the first to come into contact with among the various utensils of the temple's tent of meeting, which means that no one can go to God except through a sacrifice.
(9:22) ...without the shedding of blood there is no remission.
As the saying goes, it is impossible to come to God without the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ.
6. The Tent of Meeting was a place of worship for the Israelites.
Israel worshiped in the presence of God. The fact that the Lord has tented among us means that he is the object of our worship.
III. We beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father,
1. "Bonnie"
To see here does not mean to see in a fantasy, but to see in reality, to see with the eyes of the flesh. Often we use "seeing" and "knowing" interchangeably. So, to say "I know it" in English is "I see it." The original meaning of this word is "I see".
The apostle John and the people of that time actually saw Jesus Christ, had personal conversations, had personal fellowship, and witnessed and testified.
2. "Glory"
In the Gospel of John, "glory" is an important word.
Glory in Greek means a phenomenon in the human eye that follows the manifestation of God.
3. "Only Begotten"
It means Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This conveys the idea of the Trinity for the Jews based on the idea that the Father and the Son are one.
The Trinity is difficult to explain with any illustration, just citing the Westminster Creed instead.
There are three persons in a single divinity, that is, God the Father, identical in essence, power, and eternity
God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. The Father does not belong to anyone and does not belong to anyone.
not begotten and does not come forth; the Son is eternally begotten
The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.
IV. full of grace and truth
"Grace and truth" is used in the Old Testament as a phrase.
(Exodus 34:6) The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, the merciful,
A God who is gracious and slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth.
It signifies God's covenant and his loyalty and faithfulness to the covenant people.
1. Grace
What is grace? It is God's love, favor, and kindness given to those who do not deserve it, not because of merit.
(Romans 5:8) While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, so that God
He has vindicated his love for us.
2. Truth
God is the truth.
(Deuteronomy 32:4) He is the Rock, whose works are perfect, and all his ways are just.
He is a true and infallible God, just and upright.
(Isaiah 65:16) Therefore, those who seek a blessing for themselves on earth will bless the God of truth.
and he who swears on earth will swear by the God of truth, for the former affliction has been forgotten, and has been hidden from my sight.
Jesus
(John 14:6) Jesus said to them, I am the way, the truth, and the life, except through me
No one comes to the Father
Holy Ghost
(John 14:17) He is the Spirit of truth; the world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him.
you do not know him, but you know him, for he dwells with you.
And I will be in you
** Since God is the God of truth, Jesus is also the Jesus of truth, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, truth is an attribute of God.
Therefore, believers must also stand in the truth.
## conclusion ##
(Psalm 85:9) Verily, his salvation is near to those who fear him, and glory will dwell in our land.
Abiding as the Word, grace, and truth are important words. Jesus is the Christ of grace and truth.
Napoleon said, "I tried to conquer the world with the sword, but I became a stranger and perished, but Jesus of Nazareth prevailed." He won with love.