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        "The Incarnation of the Word"
        John 1:14-18
        Theme:         The incarnation of Christ provides the means and proof of God’s salvation of men.

      I. The Value of the Incarnation – 1:14a

        A. The Furnishing of a Qualified Sacrifice

          1. In this most eloquent portions of the prologue, John wraps up all the philosophical and theoretical issues he’d been discussing – the Word, Life, Light, etc… by giving a concrete conclusion to them all – "the Word became flesh"
          2. In this he declares that the Infinite became finite, Invisible became tangible; that which was beyond the reach of the human mind became that which could be grasped with the human hand.
          3. In providing this truth, John demonstrates that the glorious depiction of the Logos in the beginning of this section was not intended to be merely theological jargon, but was intended to prepare us to understand the tremendous depth of the mystery of the incarnation – cp. 1 Timothy 3:16
          4. The "Word" or the divine nature or essence of God did not cease to be what it had always been, it merely became – in addition – what it had never been – "flesh"
          5. This union of the two natures in the Person of Christ was necessary in order to equip Him for the work of redemption – to serve as the Substitute for man:

              6. a) It became possible for a man to live a sinless life and thereby qualify Himself to die as a substitute for others – 1 John 4:10

              b) It became possible for Him to become an understanding representative or mediator having been touched with the feeling of our infirmities – Hebrews 4:14-15

          6. Thus, the incarnation served as the means by which God could satisfy His love and justice simultaneously – His love by providing a way of deliverance for man and His justice by providing a sacrifice upon which to pour out His wrath.

        B. The Fulfillment of the Prophesied Presence of God

          1. The phrase "and dwelt among us" – literally reads "tabernacled among us"
          2. The issue raised by this reference is the presence of God among His people – established as a precedent and fore-shadowing with the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
          3. There are many corresponding things between the Tabernacle of the Wilderness and the Tabernacle of the Word – the Lord Jesus Christ (from Arthur Pink, Expostion of the Gospel of John, pp. 34-38).

              4. a) The "tabernacle" was a temporary appointment replaced by the permanent Temple - the dwelling of God among His people through the first advent was brief, to be replaced by the permanent dwelling at the Second Advent.

              b) The "tabernacle" was for use in the wilderness: a picture of the condition of Israel at the first advent – wandering without any clear bearings spiritually.

              c) The "tabernacle" was mean, humble, and unattractive in appearance – unlike the Temple: so the glory of Christ was veiled so as to be without "stately form or majesty" – Isaiah 53:2

              d) The "tabernacle" was God’s dwelling place – where the Shekinah glory did abide: so the glory of God attended Christ – "and we beheld His glory".

              e) The "tabernacle" was the place where God met with men: so too men who would meet with God must come through Jesus Christ – John 14:6

              f) The "tabernacle" was at the center of Israel’s camp: so too, Christ promised to be "in the midst of them" who gather in His name – Matthew 18:20.

          4. Thus, when John declared that the "Word . . . tabernacled among us" – he indicated that all the redemptive significance associated with the tabernacle was fulfilled in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

      II. The Verification of the Incarnation – 1:14b-15

        A. The Analysis of His Glory – v. 14b

          1. The last part of this verse, although reference above, clarifies what was the consequence of the infinite "Logos" becoming flesh – "and we saw His glory"
          2. The word "we saw" is not referring to an incidental noticing of the glory of God, but rather to an intense studying of it, a thoughtful consideration of the glory of the Word as it was able to be observed.
          3. The infinite glory of God – although veiled by his flesh – still shined through His words and deeds so that "glory" was able to be carefully considered.
          4. This "glory" found its manifestation in several ways:

              5. a) His essential glory was seen as "glory as of the only begotten from the Father" – that is the glory of Christ was glory that portrayed the unique relationship that He possessed as having from eternity past been "with God . . . and was God" – cp. John 1:1

              b) His moral glory was seen through His deeds and teachings – referred to as "full of grace and truth" –

                1)"grace" refers to that "effective manifestation of God’s undeserved love toward sinful men" (Lenski, p. 91) – that was seen in the miracles, teachings, and most eloquently in the death of the Lord.

                2)"truth" – refers to that saving light that John has already referred to repeatedly – Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the saving realities of grace.

              c) Of these elements of His moral glory Christ is "full" – there was no limit on the amount of glory displayed by Christ through His deeds and actions – regardless of the fact that they were veiled.

        B. The Affirmation by the Prophet – v. 15

          1. Once again, John the Apostle finds it helpful to refer to the witness provided by John the Baptist.
          2. He states that "John testified about Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, "He who comes after me has a higher rank that I, for He existed before me"’".
          3. Once again, the pre-existence of Christ was emphasized by the testimony of John, showing His superiority over John the Baptist.

      III. The Vitality of the Incarnation – 1:16-18

        A. The Supply of Grace – v. 16

          1. In verse 14, we were told that the Word that became flesh was "full of grace and truth" – treating the degree of grace and truth that was dwelling in Him.
          2. John makes a statement that ought to fuel the fires of gratitude in all our hearts – "for of His fullness we have all received" – an explanation as to why the "Baptizer" had made it his message to declare that Jesus was greater
          3. Regardless of how elevated John was above any other prophet, he paled in comparison to the One in Whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelled – cp. Colossians 1:19; 2:9
          4. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the eternal "Word" made flesh, was filled with inexhaustible fullness of both grace and truth.
          5. He deals first with the "fullness" of "grace" by indicating that what "we have all received" is "grace upon grace."
          6. This "grace upon grace" paints the picture of grace coming upon us as the waves incessantly pound the seashore – that with each new moment of our existence, whether it is characterized by blessing or trial, grace is constantly replenishing itself through Jesus Christ – cp. 2 Corinthians 9:8

        B. The Source of Grace – v. 17

          1. In an emphasis on the role that our Lord Jesus fills in providing us the grace and truth, John provides another analogy between Christ Jesus (the "Word made flesh") and an indisputable hero of the faith – Moses
          2. He declares: "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ."
          3. His emphasis is that Moses was not the source of the Law, merely the one through whom it was given.
          4. But, Jesus in not merely the One through whom grace and truth was given, He himself is the personification of this infinite supply referred to above.
          5. Take away Moses, and you still have the Law delivered; take away Jesus Christ and grace & truth disappear.
          6. Thus, Jesus Christ is no mere instrument of "grace and truth," He is the source of "grace and truth." – cp. Acts 15:11; 2 Corinthians 8:9

        C. The Simplifying of Grace – v. 18

          1. John now turns his focus from grace generally to the specific grace provided through Christ by which we are sanctified – "truth"
          2. "No one has seen God at any time" - This fullness that dwelt in Christ was in essence the glory of God, which no man had ever yet been privileged to behold in that God dwells in "unapproach-able" light – cp. 1 Timothy 6:16
          3. However, in Christ Jesus in whom all the fullness dwells, "the only-begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."
          4. Here is a clear statement of the deity of Jesus Christ – called "the only-begotten God"
          5. In Christ Jesus, men were able to see the glory of God and receive the truth of God in the fullest expression of the revelation of God possible – the One "who is in the bosom of the Father" – intimate and beloved.
          6. If we wish to see the glory of God – look to Jesus Christ; if we wish to know the truth about God – listen to Jesus Christ; if we wish to understand the grace of God – trust in Jesus Christ.

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