Purpose: To explain the nature of Christ's incarnation.
Aim: I want the listener to sense the impact that Christ's coming had on mankind.
INTRODUCTION: "The best way to send an idea," said scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, "is to wrap it up in a person." The theological word for all of that is "Incarnation," meaning "in the flesh." Jesus was the Incarnation of God. Jesus was the way that God sent His "idea" to humanity; there was and is no better way!
A little girl put it very simply when she said, "Some people couldn't hear God's inside whisper and so He sent Jesus to tell it out loud." One of the early church fathers whose name was Ignatius explained that "by the Incarnation, God broke His silence."
The first five verses of this Gospel give us an introduction to the whole book. Look at them: John 1:1--5 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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (NAU)
Those words sound very strange to our ears, but as you read through the Gospel of John these words take on a fuller and very exciting meaning.
Verses 14-18 are an excellent example. After we read the expression THE WORD three times in verse one John declares dramatically in verse 14, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
"The Word, that living expression of God, tells His truth out loud and sees to it that God's creation is in touch with the God's power and glory. We are brought into the personal presence of the lover of our souls. How great that blessing! How wonderful is that gift." [1]
Notice with me how our text points out how marvelous the story of Christ's appearance on earth really is. I will do this by asking two questions.
Vs.14-15 I. What Does the Incarnation tell us About Jesus?
The oldest book in the Bible declares the hope that we can see a physical God. Job 19:26 "Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; (NAU)
Vs.14a A. His incarnation is unique "became"
In the phrase "the Word became flesh" the verb, "became," means "to enter a new condition; to come to be what has never been before."
1096 BECAME ginomai {ghin'-om-ahee} ...
1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen [2]
Verse 12 uses another form of the same verb: John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, (NAU)
When we become Christians we become something we have never been before. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NAU)
So also when Jesus became a human on Christmas, He became something he never was before. Because of the virgin birth of Christ by Mary, Jesus is the one and only God-man.
This is why John calls Jesus "the only begotten from the Father" The marginal reading is, "unique, only one of His kind." Jesus became flesh. Think about it. The word "flesh" refers to the material part of man. Than which feels weakness and suffers sickness.
Vs.14b B. His incarnation is eternal "became flesh"
"John does not say He became man or even body, but "flesh"--a crude, blunt word for sophisticated Greeks who assumed that the body would eventually be cast aside. The living God has made His great, decisive move in coming among us in the flesh!" [3]
Even more astonishing is the truth that Jesus took on a human body for forever! He was born into a human body, He died in a human body, He was raised from the dead in a human body, He ascended into heaven in a human body, He is seated at the Father's right hand in a human body, He will return to earth in a human body. When John saw a vision of Christ in heaven he saw a man:
Revelation 1:12-13,17-18 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (NAU)
Jesus will eternally be the God-man who sacrificed Himself for our sin. When John saw Christ in heaven he saw, Revelation 5:6 . . . a Lamb standing, as if slain . . . (NAU)
Vs.14c C. His stay was intimate but temporary "dwelt among us"
He only stayed among us for 33 years. "The word "dwelt" means "tabernacled" or "pitched His tent." His body was the tent in which He lived among men for thirty-three years." [4]
Jesus stayed on the earth until His work was done. John 17:4 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. (NAU)
Vs.14d D. His incarnation revealed God's glory "we saw His glory"
God used a tent, the Tabernacle, to display His glory in the OT. Exodus 40:34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (NAU)
So here we see that the glory of God is displayed again in a tent--the body of Jesus. Later we learn that God will dwell in many tents. Every believer's body is God's dwelling place. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (NAU)
Do you remember what Moses wanted from God more than anything else? Exodus 33:18 Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" (NAU) God responded by saying "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you... (Exodus 33:19NAU)
There were three ways that Jesus revealed His glory.
In what ways did Jesus reveal His glory?
#1 Jesus revealed His moral glory.
Even the soldiers who were sent to arrest Jesus said, John 7:46 ... "Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks." (NAU) When Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount, ... the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28--29 NAU)
Jesus is unique because He is the only human who has perfectly fulfilled God's standard of holiness. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (NAU)
#2 Jesus revealed His visible glory.
Luke 9:28--35 Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" (NAU)
Later Peter wrote: 2 Peter 1:16--18 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"-- and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (NAU)
#3 Jesus revealed His forgiving glory
Where is Christ's glory seen in John's gospel? Not just in a display of dazzling radiance or miracle working power. His ultimate glory was revealed on the Cross. John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (NAU) In other words, Christ's greatest glory is revealed in His death and resurrection.
Vs.15 E. His incarnation proved His deity "He existed before me"
John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus physically, so Jesus did NOT begin His existence in Bethlehem. This verse takes us back to verses 1-3: 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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (NAU)
Vs.16-18 II. How Does the Incarnation Impact us?
Vs.16-17 A. The incarnation displayed God's grace to us "grace upon grace"
When we receive Christ's fullness then we are tapped into overflowing grace. Literally "grace in place of grace." Grace comes to a Christian in waves like the waves coming on shore at the seashore. Ephesians 1:3--8 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight (NAU)
To a Jew there was nothing greater than the Law that was given to Moses. But, Christ's message to us is even greater because He provides grace. The Law cannot save anyone. Romans 5:20--21 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NAU)
Vs.18a B. The incarnation identifies God with us "No one has seen God at any time"
Until Jesus came God had not fully identified with His creation.
Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. (NAU)
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (NAU)
If you want to see God look at Jesus.
No one has ever seen God directly, but we can see God in Jesus. John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (NAU)
Vs.18b C. The incarnation explains God to us "He has explained Him"
God is a talking God.
Because Jesus came in flesh like ours He could say, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:9 NAU)
Hebrews 1:1--3 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (NAU)
"Norman A. McMurry tells about a palace in the city of Rome which has a great high dome. Inside that dome there is a painting known as "The Dawn" by Guido Reni. In order that visitors may see this masterpiece, a table has been placed directly beneath the dome, and on the table a mirror. When one looks into the mirror, he sees the majestic painting far above. Is that not what the Incarnation is all about? Jesus of Nazareth is the "mirror image" of God." [5]
CONCLUSION: The result is that God has proven His love: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (NAU) It took the incarnation to bring us forgiveness.
The incarnation can be summed up this way:
Christ is perfect humanity.
Christ is pure deity.
Christ is pardoning grace.
God knows what you have done and He has done something about it.
Have you given yourself to this marvelous God-man? Are you living each day in light of what He has done for you?
[1]Written by Gene Bartlett, submitted by Mason Brown, First Baptist Church, Alden, Kansas 67512 [Adapted]
[2]Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
[3]Fredrikson, R. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1985). Vol. 27: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 27 : John. The Preacher's Commentary series (40). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.
[4]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5]From Christian Communications Laboratory
