“Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.” —John 1:14
The fullness of God in bodily form is difficult for us to get our minds around. Deity coming to earth in the flesh, Jesus’ incarnation makes known the depth of God’s love and concern for mankind. Subjecting himself to all the miseries and calamities of human nature, sharing in our humanity, Jesus truly lived a human life.
Paul tells us in Colossians:
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” —Colossians 1:19–20
Jesus came to dwell with humanity just as God dwelt among the Israelites in the wilderness—with His presence filling the tabernacle and leading the people with the cloud of His presence by day and the fire of His presence by night. We find in Exodus:
“I will reside among the Israelites, and I will be their God, and they will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt, so that I may reside among them. I am the LORD their God.” —Exodus 29:45–46
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” —Exodus 40:34–35
God is a “with us” God. From Genesis to Revelation, it has always been His desire to be among His people. He is the One who brings us out of our bondage to sin that we may dwell with Him and bring Him glory. Through the poor choice of sin, man’s fellowship was broken with the Father. Jesus came in human form yet, unlike us, lived a perfect life and became the perfect sacrifice so that through Him we may again experience the presence of our heavenly Father. Jesus’ purpose in coming was to bring us out of our bondage of sin into the glory and fullness of himself. As believers, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Paul tells us:
“God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
The rays of divine glory glistened beneath the veiled deity of the God-man Jesus. As the sun is still the fountain of life though at times hidden by a dark mist of clouds, Christ clothed in flesh was fully God though His glory was not apparent to all. The witnesses of His glory were His disciples and followers. Those who were willing to go with Him gleaned more of Him. That is still true today. Those who seek Him diligently will be privy to more of His glory.
Become More
“For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.” —2 Peter 1:16
The disciples lived life with Jesus—they walked along the road with Him, ate with Him, laughed with Him, ministered with Him, did life with Him. As a result, they claimed, “We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only.” Our faith is not grounded in or built on hearsay or cleverly invented stories, but on truth. Jesus lived his life and allowed his disciples to see his glory.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is still with us today!
Further Reflections
“Christ became what we are that He might make us what He is.” —Athanasius of Alexandria
“God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and He loves everyone the way He loves you.” —Augustine