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Writer's pictureRev. Curtis Stephens

The Word Dwelt Among Us - Christmas Day

[John 1:1-14] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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 Word Dwelt Among Us

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

You’ve heard the saying that a man is only as good as his word. With God, God is His Word. “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three persons, one God. God the Son, the only-begotten of the Father, is the Word of God. By God’s grace, His Word is somehow put into writing for us in the Bible and is thereby spoken and preached to us, even through us.

By an even greater grace of God, His Word has become, not words, but flesh and has dwelt among us. This morning, born of the flesh of the Virgin Mary, God’s eternal Word became one of us – fully God’s Word from God – fully Man from the Virgin’s womb – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” God’s Word a Man, born Christmas morning.

The Word of God becoming Man is called the incarnation. And in this incarnation, the Word of God not only became Man, but became Man-like-us.

What’s the difference between becoming Man and becoming Man-Like-Us? The Word of God becoming Man could mean becoming a great earthly king, the world’s ruler, rich and mighty. More than that, the Word becoming Man could mean becoming like unbroken-Man. Man in glory.

But, instead, Scripture teaches us clearly, on Christmas morning the Word has become Man-Like-Us – Man like broken-Man. Man of flesh. The Word has become like fallen Man – like us in every respect, only without sin. [Hebrews 2:17; 4:15]

So, what does it mean for the Word to become Man-like-us? It means the Child born this morning is born to become lonely like us fallen men. This Child born today is born to sometimes be betrayed, to sometimes be abandoned, to sometimes be abused like us fallen men. And He is born to be slandered and to be spoken evil of in the world, by fallen men, for doing good.

Like fallen man, the Word made flesh today is born to be weak. To bear illnesses. To feel pain in the body. The Word is made flesh to be in anguish and in fear of death, as in the garden of Gethsemane. He was born to truly dwell among us, experiencing in Himself the plight of our fallen nature.

The eternal Word, begotten of God before all ages, and born of Mary in time, is made flesh to be tempted as you are: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” [Hebrews 4:15].

The Word is made flesh and has dwelt among us that He might sympathize with us. The Word made Man-like-us does finish His course and become Man-in-Glory. Now the Man of Glory, the Judge, the Man who sits on God’s throne, at God’s right hand of authority, is a Man who has been poor like you in every respect.

Weak in flesh. Poor in spirit. In a manger. Dying on a cross. He has been like you in every way, apart from sin – even to save you from sin.

Indeed, the Word made flesh has carried your sin – Has been counted the sinner – has become Sinner-Man like me and you (by our sin) and has dwelt in our skin under God’s wrath. He is not unable to sympathize with you in all your weaknesses.

The Word of God was born a Child this morning to become, for fallen Man, the Spotless Lamb.

From conception to birth, to growing-pains, to working, to living, to suffering, to dying, and to the tomb, the eternal Word of God has walked your course. Now, risen and living on high, this Child born today has not forgotten what it’s like to be you. He is not out of touch.

And, indeed, this Word of God made flesh still dwells among you today in God’s written Word. And, indeed, this Word of God made flesh still dwells among you today, incarnate, in His true body and true blood in His Holy Supper.

God is His Word, and the Word is God. On Christmas morning, the Word of God was made flesh-like-you, and still dwells among you for your salvation. Amen.

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