JOHN 1:14-18:  “And 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. 15 John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’” 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

OBSERVATION:  How much does God love us?  He loved us enough to become one of us.  I think we pass over this truth with too much familiarity.  We fail to ponder its’ full significance.  When we read – “And the Word became flesh…” we may think about the miracle of the incarnation, but do we think about the personal cost God incurred?  The Creator of all things was willing to empty Himself of all His power and glory and enter into this fallen world as a human.  He did not appear as a man, but entered into life like we do as a dependent and helpless infant.  Jesus came to live and experience every footstep that we take and every challenge that we face.  He came to full identify with us and to reveal the true nature of the Godhead through His life.

Why didn’t God just send a host of angels to tell man about His nature and His love?  He had done that before.  He had revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush.  He had declared His love through the Law given to Moses.  Yet man failed to see and understand.  Man simply distorted the truth, disobeyed His commands, and created an image of God made after his own liking.  The only one who could truly proclaim the true nature and love of God was God Himself.  So the Eternal Word, who was with God (Father, Spirit), and was God (third person of the Trinity), became flesh and dwelt among us.  He gave up all, so we could gain all!

Jesus did not come to judge His creation.  He came to reveal the true nature of God’s grace and truth.  Jesus came to reveal the heart of the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In essence, the coming of Jesus was the triune expression of the love of the Infinite and Almighty God.  John writes – “16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

So many today are searching for God.  Mystics, Philosophers, and a myriad of other religions are continually looking for the one true God.  The only way to find the true and living God is through Jesus Christ.  He is the only way, the only truth, the only life.  He is the manifest expression of the love of God.  He is God in human flesh proclaiming His full nature through His life, substitutionary death, and resurrection.  He offers to all who will believe – full forgiveness and pardon from sin, the privilege of becoming true children of God, and the ability to know the Creator of all things!  No wonder Paul writes about the unsearchable and unknowable riches and love of God.  It is beyond our human comprehension, yet it is freely offered to all who will call upon His name in faith!

Lord, draw hearts today to call upon Your Name!  Open eyes to see You, to receive your grace and truth, to enter into relationship with the one true God (Father, Son, Spirit) through faith in Jesus Christ.  Thank you for Your great love and sacrifice.  Thank You for giving all – so that we could gain all!  In Jesus Name!