The Word Became Human
Scripture
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son."
-John 1:1-5, 10-14
Jesus’ story didn’t start in a manger. Before Bethlehem, before the angels and the shepherds, the Word already existed. John tells us Jesus was there at creation. Everything was made through Him. All life came from Him. The baby lying in that manger was God Almighty. The Creator stepped into His own creation.
Let that sink in for a minute. The One who spoke the stars into existence didn’t show up with power and prestige. He didn’t arrive as a king in a palace. He showed up as a baby, laid in a feeding trough in a stable. God could have kept His distance. Instead, He moved into the neighborhood. He chose to be close to us.
And Jesus knew what He was walking into. He saw what sin had done to His good world. He knew He would be misunderstood, rejected, and eventually nailed to a cross. And He came anyway. The light stepped into the darkness, not to condemn the world, but to rescue it. And the darkness could not stop Him. It still can’t.
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Why would God do that? Because He loves you that much. As C.S. Lewis put it, Jesus became one of us so we could become children of God. He came near so you could be brought home. He stepped into your brokenness to make you new. And that’s the glory John says we have seen: the glory of the Father’s one and only Son, full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
Reflection
- Jesus was there at creation, and then He was born in a stable. How does that change the way you see His humility and His love for you?
- In what ways do you tend to keep God at a distance? What does it mean to you that Jesus “made his home among us”?
- Where in your life do you need the light of Christ right now? What would it look like to welcome Him there instead of holding back?
Prayer
Thank Jesus for coming into this broken world to save you. Ask Him to help you receive His love personally, not just as something you know in your head, and to walk this week as a loved child of God.
Footnote (at the bottom of the devotional)
¹ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 4, Chapter 5, “The Obstinate Toy Soldiers.”
