Full of Grace And Truth
John 1:14
The Miracle of the Incarnation: When God Became Man
Have you ever wondered what makes Christianity unique among world religions? At its core stands the most profound miracle in all of Scripture – the incarnation. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This single verse contains a theological depth that, as J.C. Ryle noted, is “very short if we measure it by words. But it contains things which are so deep and mysterious that we may well say of them… It is deep. We cannot fathom it.”
The Word Became Flesh
What does it mean that “the Word became flesh”? It’s not that Jesus ceased to be God, but that He entered into full humanity. Jesus is 100% God and 100% human – the God-man. As Philippians 2 tells us, “He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.” And Hebrews explains, “Since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.”
Jesus was not always flesh, but He became flesh. He was always God, but He “became something that he never was before.” Galatians 4:4 tells us that He was “made of a woman” – not through a woman, but of a woman. His humanity came from Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus took on flesh, He endured several things:
- He endured humility. “Though in the form of God, he took on the form of his servant, humbling himself even to the death of the cross” (Philippians 2). As Spurgeon wisely noted, “If God was willing to come down and take our nature into union with himself, let us not think it much to put ourselves beneath the feet of fellow men.”
- He endured temptation. “He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). When we cry out, “Lord, help my unbelief” or “Lord, I’m weak in the flesh,” we go to One who understands.
- He endured poverty and rejection. “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). “He came to his own and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:17).
- He endured suffering and death. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death” (Hebrews 2).
The Word Dwelt Among Us
God literally “tabernacled” among men. Just as God’s glory filled the tabernacle in Exodus 40, “the fullness of God dwells in Jesus.” Jesus is the living, breathing tabernacle of God among men. As the Christmas story reminds us, His name is Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.”
The Word Revealed His Glory
When we see Jesus, we see the glory of God – not the Shekinah glory of the Old Testament, but the glory of being “full of grace and truth.” And that word “full” means abounding and overflowing. There’s no shortage of grace and no shortage of truth in Jesus. He is 100% of both.
A.W. Tozer beautifully said, “Jesus Christ knows the worst about you. Nonetheless, he is the one who loves you the most.” He came to set you free. “He gave up heaven, gave up his riches and came to earth that you might be free, that you might have life, and that you might have life more abundantly.”
Putting It Into Practice
The doctrine of the incarnation directly impacts how we live:
- Remember Christ identifies with our humanity. He knows your weaknesses and mine.
- Look to Jesus to see God. “If you want to know God, get to know Jesus” (John 1:18).
- Embody both grace and truth. If Jesus embodies both, and we’re His followers, “we too ought to be people of grace and truth.”
- Practice humility like Jesus. “The next time you’re in a situation this week, you might say, ‘Lord, help me to be like you and help me to humble myself.'”
- Don’t settle for a diminished Christ. He was fully God, fully human – the God-man who came to save sinners.
If you’re struggling today, know that Jesus understands your temptations and trials. And for all of us, let’s seek someone to serve this week, because “Jesus came to seek and save the lost.”
Jesus Reveals God
Point To Jesus
When Light Broke The Darkness
That You May Believe – The Gospel of John
We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!