“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. 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. 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. 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 1:1-14 (ESV)

John opens his Gospel by declaring the Word’s eternal existence, creative power, and incarnation. This poetic prologue establishes the divine nature of the Word and its role in bringing life and light.

John’s gospel speaks to the transcendence, the great-and-otherness of God as made human in Jesus. He looks at the life and death of Jesus with another lens, different to the first three gospels.

But just like the other Gospels, John is also making a very clear statement. He is using language that the all-conquering Romans used for their rulers: ‘son of God’ (Latin divi filius) was a name that Caesar Augustus gave to himself. He was also self-styled as ‘the light-bringer’! The emperors began a new religion, an imperial cult, claiming to be semi-divine (a mix of God and humans). So much of what the Gospels say is a direct confrontation of the powers of the day.

The fourth Gospel, as John is often referred to, brings us a very different view of the birth of Christ. Instead of seeing the stage and players, we get a glimpse of backstage, behind the scenes as it were. Everyone else was seeing a little baby being born, but from God’s perspective, the fullness of the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing creator God was being poured into the confines of His own creation. We here have confirmed to us what has been hinted at since the beginning: this coming figure would be like us, a human, but would be a whole lot more.

The idea that the infinite would somehow limit themselves to the finite goes beyond what I can work out in my mind. It’s staggering; it beggars belief, yet belief is exactly what it should provoke in us. God, who created everything, loves us so much that He stepped into what He had made in order to redeem it with His love.

This passage proclaims Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh, the ultimate gift of God bringing grace, truth, and light into the world. God choosing to be with us, Immanuel, the one who has come near. And not just that, but one who would live like we live, so that we might have a God who knows what our life is like.

These concepts are hard to articulate, but reading this passage reminds me of the old song we sang in church when I was growing up:

“You are beautiful beyond description, 
Too marvellous for words, 
Too wonderful for comprehension, 
Like nothing ever seen or heard, 
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom? 
Who can fathom the depth of Your love? 
You are beautiful beyond description, 
Majesty, enthroned above” *

Today, take a moment to meditate on the wonder of God becoming flesh. Maybe you could light a candle. It would symbolise the light Jesus brings to the world. Then, reflect on John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Share this light. Reach out to someone who may feel overwhelmed or forgotten. Offer them kind words or a small act of kindness. Let your life reflect the grace and truth of the Word made flesh.

Jesus is the invisible God made visible, and given to us: the Word that became flesh.

*”I Stand In Awe.” Music and words by Mark Altrogge, Sovereign Grace Praise.