The Word Dwelt Among Us

MEMORY VERSE: “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

JOHN 1:1-5, 14-18

OUR lesson is designed to commemorate the birth of Jesus, which indeed it does. However, it is recognized by many now that the birth of Jesus did not really occur in December, but sometime near the beginning of our month October. It is appropriate, nevertheless, to recall this important event in the divine plan regardless of what time of year it might have occurred. The important consideration is not what time in the year Jesus was born, but the fact that he was, indeed, born to be the Redeemer and Savior of, the world.

John speaks of Jesus as the “Word,” which is the English translation of the Greek word “Logos.” This word means mouthpiece or representative, and throughout his ministry Jesus emphasized that the words which he spoke were not his, but the words of his Father. He was his Heavenly Father’s spokesman, the Logos: John says that this Logos was in the beginning with God, the word “beginning” taking us back before the creation.

The King James translation asserts that “the Word was God” But this is misleading, for the translation fails to reflect the definite article “the” in connection with the Creator. As the Greek text puts it, what John tells us is this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was a god.” The word “God” here simply means a mighty one, and truly Jesus was a mighty one. However, he was not the Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, but the Logos, his representative, who participated with him in the great work of creation.

Our lesson states, “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” The Apostle Paul further states this great truth in Colossians 1:14-17. He refers to Jesus as God’s dear Son and says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things and by him all things consist.”

Our lesson states that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” He was not a spirit being in fleshly form, but “was made flesh”; that is, he was born a human, having given up his spirit nature. The reason for this was that he came to redeem mankind from death. In due time he gave his flesh, his humanity, for the life of the world as a substitute for the condemned Adam and his race, who lost life as a result of sin. The Apostle Paul refers to this work of Jesus as a ransom, and tells us that he gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified—made known—in due time.—I Tim. 2:4-6

John further says concerning the Logos, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The Creator’s purpose for Jesus was that he might through his redemptive work provide life for mankind, and this purpose concerning life was the light of men. In other words, mankind was in darkness because they did not know the purpose of God concerning them, but Jesus revealed that purpose to as many as could comprehend it. Not many did at that time. John says, “The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not”

John the Baptist bore witness of Jesus, saying, “This is he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.” (vs. 15) How true it was that Jesus, as the Logos, was in existence long before John the Baptist. In a prophecy concerning Jesus’ birth the Prophet Micah says that his “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”—Micah 5:2

The Apostle John makes an interesting comparison. “The law,” he says, “was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

“No man hath seen God at any time.” How true this is! But we rejoice that the only begotten Son of God has declared, or revealed him; and this revelation has come through the divine plan for human redemption and salvation.

QUESTIONS

What was Jesus’ nature when he was born into the world?

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