The Word Became…

There is no more startling and puzzling and marvelous and mysterious and heart thrilling concept in the entire Bible as this simple phrase found in John’s gospel. This Word (the divine Logos which was with God and was God, became flesh). The first question this provokes is this – What does it mean for God – infinite in being and perfections – to become something at all. By definition God cannot become other than he is, he cannot undergo mutation or violation of his nature. But yet this God did become! And what was it that he became? The divine Son, the pre-existent Logos who was with the Father before the Word began, became flesh. The brightness of deity put on the dim cloak of humanity, glory became dust, and dust became glorious. Did such a becoming do violence to the divine nature – my brothers, we must say NO! Rather, this becoming was a conjoining of natures in the one person – the divine taking on a lesser nature, but yet not a confusion of the divine with the human. One person, two natures – the wondrous God-Man Christ Jesus did step upon the earth.

For orthodox theology has specially insisted that Christ was not a being apart from God and man, like an elf, nor yet a being half human and half not, like a centaur, but both things at once and both things thoroughly, very man and very God. GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy (New York: NY, Image books, 1959) 93. Originally published: New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1908.

In the midst of the mud and dirt of earth, in the midst of the sweat and blood of human flesh, God tabernacled, God dwelt among his own creation. Though the pristine glory of the one true God, upon which no man may directly gaze, was shrouded in the humanity, nonetheless the beauty of this man shone forth the being of God. “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” was the message – his very life was the beauty of God in perfected humanity.

He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men, yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming yet He was so genial and winsome and approachable that the children loved to play with Him and the little ones nestled in His arms. No one was half so kind or compassionate to sinners yet no one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about sin… His whole life was love. Yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell… He saved others but at the last, Himself He did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrasts which confront us in the Gospels. The mystery of Jesus is the mystery of divine personality. James Stewart, The Strong Name

This person, the word made flesh, had come to earth to be a lamb, a lamb sacrificed to take away the sin of the world. What a thought! Humanity’s greatest dilemna, was to be remedied by the sacrifice of a lamb, and the lamb was God’s very Son, the 2nd person of the eternal, glorious, holy, unchanging, all powerful, wise, righteous, loving God. Lingered in dust and dirt below the Lord of Glory did bestow

Glory and Honor on Humanity's frame

Never again the world the same Benevolent grace exploding earth’s borders Arrayed by the Father’s purpose and order O heavenly visist enlightening the eyes

Purchased for God the humblest of prize

Reid Monaghan 2005

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