Flesh Among Us

John 1:1-14

John declared at the beginning of his gospel, “And the Word was made 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” (John 1:14). Matthew says the Word was Emmanuel—God with us. What better way to be among us than to become one of us? Therefore, God the Son laid aside His splendor and the glory of His Godship to take on human flesh.

This very act revealed to humankind just how much God loves us. The Golden Text of the Bible reminds us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Taking on flesh, Jesus became fully human to experience and know what we go through. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). This is Emmanuel in the flesh.