John 1:1-18; Luke 1; Matthew 1:1-17

All through the Creation and the Flood and the growth of Abraham’s family into vast nations God spoke to people. The Word of God spoke everything into existence and the Word of God guided the daily activities of the obedient faithful. The Word of God corrected the erring and encouraged the downtrodden, giving hope to those thirsting for God. In various times and ways, the Word of God promised the Anointed One of God, the Messiah (in Greek, “the Christ”) was coming to save mankind from sin. Matthew and Luke record the birth of the child of Mary, the descendant of Abraham through David. He was an heir to the throne, born into the humble home of a carpenter.

And, then there is John’s account…

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 was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

No human genealogy will suffice when God comes to earth as a man. We begin to sense the importance of all of those times when “the Word of God” appears in the Hebrew scriptures. Next time you go back to read in the Old Testament, replace “Word of God” with Jesus and meditate on that for a while.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:6-9

Even the ministry of John (not the Apostle who wrote this gospel) the Baptizer is cast in a different, well, light. In the beginning there was darkness and the Word of God spoke light into existence. By the very nature of light and the presence of light darkness ceases to exist and is doomed. The Word of God – the light of life – was coming into the world, and John preached to the people to prepare themselves and change their minds and hearts.

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 bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 1:14-18

Just as God dwelled among men in the temporary dwelling place of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, God would temporarily dwell among people as a man walking on earth. He is God and God’s essence – grace and truth – is the essence of Jesus, the human. The Word of God was the Law given to Moses as a preparation for the coming of Messiah, the Word in the flesh.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3:13-29

Now the world would truly see God. Now everyone – Jew and Gentile – would see what God was doing all along. Now the world would become one with God in the wonderful blessing of forgiveness of sins. Now all that was needed was for the Jews to see what was so easily seen and share in the blessing of the promise of God to Abraham, and then watch the Gentiles flock to God and share in His glory. Easy. Right?

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:10-13

People still retain the power of free will and the power to choose for or against God. God calls, but He will not force. Yet. In believing, God grants us new power – the power to become His children. In believing, we now have the power to obey the call of the gospel.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Notice again, that in all God did in Christ Jesus – divinity becoming humanity – and in the once for all sacrifice for sin, free will still stands between people and redemption in Christ. Because of Who Jesus is and what He did, everyone SHOULD bow before Him and confess His Lordship, but not everyone will. Yet.

For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:10-12

Jesus, the Christ – Messiah – will appear once more at the judgment. Whereas during our lives and before His return we were all free to choose, the power of our free will will be replace with the consequences of free will. On that day, there will be unmistakable clarity. On that day, there will be unmistakable justice. On that day there will be the fullness of grace and truth. On that day there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So, the word of God became flesh and lived among people for a while. If you believe that, you have the power to obey Jesus and become God’s child according to the promise He made to Abraham. No longer is it the blood coursing through your veins that determines your relationship with God, only the blood that flowed down from the cross.

On THIS day, what will you do with Jesus?

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!