In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
The Word, being translated from the Greek word “Logos” refers to ultimate meaning. Therefore, by John using this word, he is putting a transcendent emphasis on the ultimate plans and purposes of God’s Living Word, made manifest by the Lord Jesus Christ.
“THEREFORE, BY JOHN USING THIS WORD, HE IS PUTTING A TRANSCENDENT EMPHASIS ON THE ULTIMATE PLANS AND PURPOSES OF GOD’S LIVING WORD, MADE MANIFEST BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
Amazingly, Jesus is the Incarnate Word who came into the world through the womb of a virgin. It is not that Jesus began to exist only after being conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, only that he began His earthly mission in this way. After all, Jesus has existed and will exist from eternity to eternity (Psalm 90:2); He is the God-man (a hypostatic union of both divine and human natures).
None of this is meant to stir up confusion. Just as alluded to in my post on the Trinity, we believe what we do because of what the Word of God affirms. It is not always based on feelings or how much sense everything makes to us. Even so, it is amazing to think about how God was in relationship within Himself through intra-Trinitarian love, lacking nothing. This is so humbling because it helps us to realize that God did not make us because He needed to. Rather, He created us because He wanted to, to shower us with much grace (2 Corinthians 9:8).
The Word became flesh. We ought to let that sink in. Jesus left all of the comfort of Heaven and was born not in a palace, but in a manger. We hear the Christmas story so often that we can become jaded to the beauty of what has happened here on Earth. There was a miraculous message delivered by the angel Gabriel to Mary, the same angel that gave the prophesy of Daniel 9:24 to Daniel hundreds of years prior, showing when Jesus would walk the Earth and bring everlasting righteousness. John the Baptist lept in his Mother’s womb (Luke 1:41). There was a miraculous journey to the city of David (Bethlehem). There are countless other interworkings that we do not see. How beautiful are the works of God.
Jesus changed everything when He was born that first Christmas over two thousand years ago. To God we owe all the glory, praise, and honor this Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. We owe this to Him every day. To God be the glory all in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Merry Christmas!
PS:
X references Christ in Greek (So you really can’t take the word Christ out of Christmas ;)).
Happy Holidays stems from Holy Days, which are days set apart for observance (the word Holy being so prevalent in the Bible).
