“And 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).

The life of any individual without Christ is marked by bondage, bondage to sin and its penalty, death. “But, when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem [i.e., free from bondage] them that were under the law” (Galatians 4:4,5). His Son, of course, is none other than Jesus Christ, identified as the living “Word made flesh” in our text.

The fourth verse of “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne,” reflects this transaction.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the Living Word That should set thy people free; But with mocking scorn And with crown of thorn They bore thee to Calvary.

His creation should have welcomed Him gladly, gratefully accepting this free redemption from bondage, but instead they “stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:28,29).

Then they bore Him “to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him” (Luke 23:33).

This work of liberation and freedom from bondage merits our lifelong thankfulness and devotion, for His death bought our freedom. “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). As freed slaves, we are free to say,

“O come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee.” JDM