Christmas 2023 - Day 7: Christmas and The Word

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… Jn 1:14
 
These first fourteen verses of John's Gospel make it quite clear that the Word that came from heaven and became flesh to dwell among men, is God Himself; God in flesh. Isaiah said He would come with a sign that proved His divinity. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Is 7:14). The virgin birth is God's sign that it is He who dwelt among us. How so? Though He was born of a woman, before she had been with anyone, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:18). So that the child is fully-God and fully-man. God becoming flesh so that He might dwell - that is, make His home - among us. Matthew expressly states that the birth of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Mt 1:23).

Why is that so critically important? Because, as John writes, "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known." (Jn 1:18). No one has ever seen God - in fact, Jesus clarifies saying, "no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone whom the Son chooses to reveal Him…”  (Mt 11:27). You see, God became flesh and dwelt among men to make Himself known or knowable to men who would know nothing of Him unless He revealed Himself in this way. You may say, "But men had His word - the law and the prophets". Ah, yes, they did, and the majority were greatly confused about its purpose and meaning - completely missing the shadows and types of Christ they portrayed. And so, in wondrous condescension and love, the Word became flesh and dwelt among men. Jesus, God in flesh, descended from heaven, bringing every Word of God to full expression, in view of men through life-giving fulfillment.
 
You see, it is not enough to be religious. It does not make one acceptable to know the law. Performing any number of sacraments, sacrifices and dutiful disciplines will not save one hair of a single soul. (He 10:4/Ps 51:16-17). You must KNOW Him. You must personally know the living God. And He has exhausted every effort so that you may know Him. Jesus is the Word of God become flesh. Let us not allow this Christmas Day to pass without opening His word that we may know Him.

Merry Christmas, dear ones!