God Became One of Us

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John 1:14, NIV)


The Creator of the universe became one of us. This is the wonder of Christmas: that the eternal Son of God did not merely add flesh to His deity, He is not God in a body; He became flesh, He became a creature. He did not give up anything; He added humanity. John, one of the disciples He chose, declares that he and his fellow apostles saw His glory. They saw grace and truth incarnate.

What does God look like? Since God is invisible He cannot be seen. But in Jesus of Nazareth, the invisible God became visible. What does grace look like? What does truth look like? Since grace and truth are abstract concepts, they cannot be seen. But in Jesus of Nazareth, grace and truth became visible, in His person, His words, and His works. At His birth, shepherds and Magi were attracted to Him. Throughout His life, the poor, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed were attracted to Him. Sinners flocked to Him. And today, frightened, ashamed, and guilty people are attracted to Him. Jesus is our hope; He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Christmas is the commemoration of the moment when Jesus, the eternal Son of God, was born into this world to be our Savior. He did not merely come to visit—He made his dwelling on this earth. This earth is now His home. He is embodied forever. When the work of redemption is complete, according to the same apostle, “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’” (Revelation 21:3). Then, we, who have never seen God, will see Him. We will see glory, grace, and truth, and will live with Him on a re-created earth. Forever.