Monday: The Word Made Flesh
Daily Lesson for Monday 14th of October 2024
Read John 1:1-3,14. What are these verses telling us that Jesus, God Himself, did—and why is this truth the most important truth that we could ever know?
John starts his Gospel not with the name “Jesus” or His role as Messiah/Christ but with the term logos. Around the time John wrote, various philosophies used the term logos to refer to the rational structure of the universe, or to refer to the idea of logic and reason themselves.
Also, the teaching of the influential ancient philosopher Plato had divided reality into two realms. One is the heavenly and immutable realm, where absolute perfection exists. The other is the realm here—perishable, changing, a very imperfect representation of the perfect realm above, wherever it supposedly existed. (Plato never answered that question.) Some philosophies identified the logos as some abstract intermediary between the eternal forms and the perishable, earthly forms here.
Image © Darrel Tank at Goodsalt.com
John uses the term in a completely different manner. He maintains that the truth, the logos, is not some ethereal and abstract concept floating between heaven and earth. The logos is a person: Jesus Christ, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
For John, the logos is the Word of God. More important, God communicated; that is, He revealed Himself to humanity in the most radical way: God became one of us.
In the Gospel of John, the logos represents the eternal God, who enters time and space, who speaks, acts, and interrelates with humans on a personal level. The eternal God became a human being, one of us.
In John 1:14 the apostle indicates that the logos “became flesh and dwelt among us” (NKJV). The underlying Greek word, translated dwelt, means to pitch a tent. John is alluding to Exodus 25:8, where God told the Israelites to make a sanctuary, a tent structure, so that He could dwell in their midst. In the same way, in the Incarnation, Jesus, the divine Son of God, stepped into human flesh, veiling His glory so that people could come in contact with Him.
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Dwell on the implications of what John has written here. God Himself, the Creator, became a human being, one of us, and lived here among us. (We haven’t even gotten to His dying for us yet!) What does this tell us about the reality of God’s love for humanity? Why should we draw so much comfort from this amazing truth? |
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I am writing on the fly this morning because we are still travelling, so my comment will be short. There is an interesting and important parallel between John:
...and the Genesis story:
In both cases, the notion carried by the word "flesh" is a deep spiritual relationship. Adam and Eve were not there just to procreate, but to have a combination of minds that worked together in love. Likewise, when John uses the metaphor of the Word made flesh, he is characterising the depth of the loving relationship between the creator and the created.
We may argue about the nature of divinity, but significantly, the key lies in the relationship that God wants to have with us.
Magnetism is one of those "force at a distance" phenomena that we can easily describe, but the explanation eludes us. There is a mystery as to why a force can act at a distance. The fact that we cannot explain the mystery, does not stop us from not only describing its effect but using it productively.
Likewise we can live in the deep relationship God offers us even though we cannot explain the mystery.
Thank you very much Maurice! What you described is the epitome of living. I was blessed. There is not a better way to live in this world.
I do believe most will agree that the Word is the Lord, Yahweh of the old testament. Mary the chosen virgin was conceived of the Holy Spirit, Christ was born of Mary, a human maintaining full divinity.
Yes the vital point of it all for us is to choose to serve Him on a daily basis because we love Him. Remember agape love. Romans 8:31-39, Agape love goes both ways. John 21:17.
For the "Word" to become flesh and dwell amongst us, exemplifies the deep love that God has for His children.
I don't understand it fully, but I have come to accept it and count on it as I travel this pilgrim journey!!!!
To sum it all up here is to put it in these three words "God is Love"
This tells me that God's love for humanity is boundless. It goes beyond what I can explain and I can't fully comprehend it but I am eternally grateful for it. If God can do all of this for me, I will by His grace cling to Him daily.
For God to enter into the human realm speaks volumes about His love for His Creation. He could have destroyed earth when Adam and Eve fell into sin, and started over, and would have been justified in doing so. Instead, the plan of Salvation was formulated before the world was created, before there was ever a need. Kind of like those fire extinguishers in public places that have posted, "in case of fire break glass". The Word (Logos) consented to be mankind's "fire extinguisher" against the devil's hell.
Think about what condescension was made. People may ask,"What does found in fashion as a man mean?"(Phil. 2:5-10) It means that the Creator, so identified with His Creation that He became one of them. He lived among them, and died among them. Yet He didn't consent to die an ordinary death, He consented to die the equivalent of the Second death for all humanity.
Hebrews 2:9-18, identifies that He stepped lower than the angels, which becoming one of them would have been a significant step down, but lo, He stepped all the way down to our level. He took on flesh and blood to save us. The nearest approximation I can imagine is a human becoming an amoeba, for the sake of saving all amoebae, and yet consenting to forever remain in appearance of an amoeba.
"What Wondrous love is this?..."
I am not sure I understand. If the second death is death that there is no resurrection from how did Christ die the second death?
Let me give this a try, even though I'll probably fail miserably.
Jesus could not see through the portals of the tomb. He did not know that His separation from His Father wasn't going to be eternal. By faith He BELIEVED, but He couldn't see. He died on the cross for us believing that His separation from His Father WOULD be or COULD be eternal. That's what the second death is: eternal separation from God.
What love! I agree with you, Charlene. Not having a guarantee of rising from the dead is what made Jesus’ death a second death. I love Him! Thanks
He tasted the second death when He felt abondoned by God, as if it would be forever. https://ssnet.org/blog/the-god-forsaken-god/
Christ did die the second death infused with our bio life. At the second death our bio life was forever died the second death In Christ. This is the purpose of Christ dying the death on our behalf. Hebrews 2:9
However, the conditions for second death is the person must have sinned but according to 1 John 3:5 there was no sin found in Him.
Therefore Jesus could not be bound by the second death.
In a simple statement Christ died the second death for me but He could not be kept in the grave because there was no sin in Him. Since He had risen, I will rise with Him because my bio life had paid the eternal punishment In Christ, now I rise to the new life In Christ.
This is the reason Christ can claim I am the way, the truth and life.
John 1:14 - ”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The ‘glory’ of the Word which became flesh is noted as ‘full of Grace and Truth’.
In my curiosity, many questions remain. For example: In which form did this 'logos/the Word of God' exist before it became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ? In heaven, was the name of 'logos' Jesus? Did 'logos' exist as a person in the form of the Spirit of God, the Son of God, or God the Father? We learn that God the Father is Spirit and worshiping Him can only be done by/with/in His Spirit; that worship manifests in/by/through the Spirit and Truth – John 4:24;
If the person ‘Jesus, the Son of Man’, is to be considered God – fully divine - in the flesh, how can He be both - flesh and spirit at the same time? I understand God’s Son to be one in spirit with the Father, but not in/by flesh. Is it not in their unity of the same Spirit of Truth – John 10:30 that they become/are One? I consider the name 'Jesus' - 'God with us' - 'logos’ – 'Word of God' referring to their union in Spirit.
The lesson writer states that John considers ‘logos’ to “represent the eternal God”. The Christian Trinity speaks of three eternal Gods – three persons - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; which One is he referring to? Is God’s Son represented in the flesh the God who created this universe? If so, ‘who’ was in charge during His absence from heaven? Into whoes hands was the authority given to maintain His universe to continue for over 30 years the task to create, forming matter and life in endless space?
Although there are three distinct beings of the Godhead, they had the same nature and form. This is evidenced by the verse in Genesis when God said, "Let us make man in our image." If you notice, God did not say in our images.
Hello Charles! You ask an excellent question. Jesus died the equivalent of the Second death by experiencing the feeling of separation from God. In this sense He "tasted death for all men". You are correct, He couldn't have died the Second death and been resuresurrected. There is no resurrection from the Second death.
This link explains it perfectly.
http://www.gospel-herald.com/christ_second_death.htm
Thank you
Thank you for that link, Tim, and for your answer. It led me to look up texts that mention the 2nd death to look deeper into what that experience was like for Jesus, what that death "tasted" like for Him.
Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." This really expands on what the feeling of separation from God entailed for Jesus. He FELT like a coward, unbelieving, murderer, sexually immoral, magic-practicing, idolater, liar. Jesus felt like He had not overcome sin (Rev. 2:11). He felt like His name was not written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15). He felt separated from God the Father....like a person without faith (1 John 5:4). Jesus felt spiritually dead on the Cross.
Curious question ... Jesus is Life and the Author of Life...but also fully man...so I wonder if His name is written in the Book of Life?
Hi Esther I encourage to read the Desire of Ages chapter 78. By Ellen G White. This chapter breaks down Jesus is crucifixion on the cross, and how he felt when he was separated from The Father. You can download the app on Apple or android by typing EGW writings. She has phenomenal books that correlates the Bible.
Basically, in a summary, Jesus felt the weight of our sins and how sin separates us from God the Father and how we are owed that second because of our sins. Jesus was the barrier of all the sins from humanity ( from Adam until He comes again) therefore, He was separated from his Father spiritually. But by Him having faith in his Father, accepted the death, knowing that he would rise again, conquering that second death that we are all owed.
Jesus is the author and creator of our lives along with the Father they both hold the book of life, and the book of iniquity (the book of death) He is our high priest in heaven rn interceding with the Father on our behalf. For believers and those who ask for repentance true in the heart. When He took the death on the cross therefore, He has full control over our judgment and who has, the grant of having eternal life with Him and the Father or having that second death of no existence.
Hebrews 3:1 KJV - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 4:14 KJV - Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Thank you, dear Sister Meaghan, for sharing these thoughts from The Desire of Ages. Won't it be amazing to have eternity to hear more deeply from Jesus what that sacrifice means to Him! The more we contemplate it, the more we see God's character of love and humility. May He continue to transform our minds and hearts into His same image this day!
You’re so welcome. And amen, I am looking forward to that day where we can learn more about Christ and his unconditional love for the ones who believe in him
* He is interceding in front of the Father on our behalf, not with*
Hi Esther! Yes, Jesus probably felt all those things as He took on all those sins. 2 Cor. 5:21 is the verse that I call the Great Exchange verse. He took our sins in which He had no part of, and gave us His Righteousness, of which we had no part of.
I do believe that Jesus's name is written in the Book of Life as it's Author. 🤔😊
Yes, Jesus is the Author of the Book of Life...probably He Himself IS the Book of Life, rather than it being an external scroll or parchment or some sort of separate document...we are all written in His mind and heart (Is. 49:16)....
I'm thinking He's also the first name in the Book as the Firstfruits and as our Big Brother (Heb. 2:11), the First Adam to overcome sin and open/be the Door for us to do likewise. Jesus is always First and Last, Alpha and Omega (Rev. 22:13). Thank you, LORD God!
Christ love for humanity began before the fall of mankind. Because He is all knowing He knew the about the fall of the human race and created salvation plan for us. This is where the sanctuary comes in place. It shows us the map of Gods plan for our salvation.
For God so loved the world he gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16)
Jesus dwelt with man because He loved us. He was our example in this life and our way to heaven. He wanted to show man how to live a life through Christ so that may dwell with Him and His Father in the end
Sometimes, we doubt God's love for us because we are insecure and have little faith. That's why we must continue to remind ourselves that Jesus means logos; thus, He has to be the master of our lives!
Since John’s powerful use of logos occurred long before Plato’s philosophical perspective, why do we need Plato as a reference. Does his perspective reflect the extent to which Plato and his generation had drifted from God’s holy word? Give me the Bible!
Plato lived some 400 years before John.
From my perspective, I see writing some 60 years or so after Christ - a time when Plato's ideas were shaping society and likely infiltrating the Christian church. John's writings put Christians back on track, as John's teachings contrast sharply with the teachings of Plato. And this is likely what the lesson authors had in mind in their reference to Plato.
Christians do not exist in a vacuum. They were then and we are now influenced by the society in which we live. We need strong biblical support to discern between truth and error because the worst errors often come attractively wrapped in truth.
John's writings (his gospel, his letters, and the book of Revelation) provided the corrective to the errors subtly infiltrating the church.
The only blue print that we have as christians is the word of God . May God help us to walk according to his blue print each and every day in our lives .
The Book of John reveals this Truth for me...God’s Love is deeper, stronger and more powerful than our sins! How do I know this? Because Yahweh Chose to walk and live amongst humans to fully Shield us from the full onslaught of Satan's evil powers. So God in Jesus His Son became our Protection. God didn't shy away from us us because of our sins. Instead He Loves so deeply deep He came as one of us and exposed Himself to to sin so we are not overwhelmed with sin but saved enveloped in His Love! This idea of God's Love is stronger, deeper and more powerful than our sins is also reflected in Romans 8:31 Who can be against us when God is with us?