The Word Became Flesh
Author: Bobby Valentine | Filed under: Christian hope, Christmas, Hermeneutics, Jesuso( lovgo$ saVrx
The Gospel of John declares the radical message: The Word became flesh. It did not look like flesh. It did not assume flesh. It did not just act like flesh. The Gospel declares the Word became flesh. This notion is so important to John and his community of believers and (using slightly different lingo) it is also important to Paul. For example John declares that if a person denies that Christ came in the flesh that person (not some satanic incarnation of Hollywood) is the antichrist (2 Jn 7).
What is so important about this idea that a person could even be called the “antichrist” for denying? In a nutshell because in Jesus of Nazareth God is showing us what he intended in the beginning. Jesus is the true human being what God wanted from the first day of creation. In the person of Jesus we see restored humanity. Humanity in harmony with God. Humanity doing the will of the Father. Humanity with an unbelievably intimate relationship with the Spirit. In the Flesh, through Jesus the Christ, God is showing us what he wants for you … and me. The incarnation, when the Word became Flesh, connected salvation with creation. John teaches us that God so loved the world, even the “flesh,” that he gave his one and only Son to redeem and save it. It is good news that the Word became Flesh. It is good news to know that God loves all of me and not just some invisible part of me. It is good news that God became flesh in Jesus. What a compliment. John dares to say that we simply cannot understand the story of Jesus without believing this incredible truth.
Shalom,
Bobby Valentine
July 11th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
As much as I have learned to look very carefully when someone claims Hellenistic influence in a passage of Scripture, I think that this is one of those places where it cannot be avoided.
As I understand it, to the Hellene mind, LOGOS would mean something like the absolute ideal, the perfect pattern. Is that right? It seems to mesh perfectly with what Paul says at several occasions.
The danger that many interpreters seem to fall into is thinking that John is saying NOT Yahweh, but rather Greek LOGOS. When we keep Yahweh predominant in our understanding, and relate LOGOS to Him… We seem to be on more solid, less Marcionite ground.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
John was not a nascent Marcionite this is true.
Thanks for the comment Nick.
Bobby V
July 11th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Bobby,
I’d be interested in your “take” on this:
http://www.focusonthekingdom.org/articles/john1.htm
July 12th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I doubt any of us understand the ramifications of the incarnation … the human Jesus … but thank you for this insight to draw us closer to its truth.
July 12th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Not only was He born as a man, he became a servant, humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death on a cross.
Wow!
July 12th, 2008 at 6:26 am
“The incarnation, when the Word became Flesh, connected salvation with creation.”
Bits like this in your writing are always helpful, and always reminds me that I need to constantly look for the link between a theological concept, creation, and the eschaton. That idea makes things so much clearer, but it doesn’t come naturally to me.
-Clarke
July 12th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Wonderful post brother. I love John because John brings John out the humanity in Jesus.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Bobby,
Have you used the Tyndale Font install? You can type Greek and Hebrew all over the place – http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/Tyndale/TTech/TTech032.htm
You can use Alt+Shift to switch between Greek, Hebrew and English:
“And the Word Became Flesh”
“και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο”
I would put the Hebrew but I don’t feel like translating it!
Let’s see if this works in a blog comment.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Guess it works!
July 13th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I was wondering if your church could add me to your prayer list. I have been having health problems. I was in ICU for 2 days this week with pneumonia and they also found out I had lost 25% of my blog so the Dr’s ran all kinds of tests. I had a EGD and colonostopy done they found out the my esophogus was the worst that they have see. I could get cancer soon and will have many EGD tests in the future. I appreciate your prayers and your churches prayers brother.
In Him,
Kinney Mabry
Aka,
Preacherman
July 13th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Kinney we will pray for you this morning.
Bobby V
July 14th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Great blog Bobby. Amen! I love that God became flesh and lived among us. There’s is no one like Him!
Kinney, Tim and I are praying for you brother! Keep us posted on your progress.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Jesus was “God with us” in the most literal sense. Of course your comments are right on target too.
Not being a trained theologian, I tend to think in simple terms. For instance, what comes to mind when you see the English word “apple”? Each of us knows exactly what is to be understood when we see that word (logos). When we see Jesus, we see the Father in the same way. Paul put it this way. “He (Jesus) is the exact repersentation…” of God the Father.
Thanks for the post.
His peace,
Royce
July 15th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Excellent!