“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)

This is the great verse of the Incarnation, declaring to us that the Creator of all things, the eternal Word of God (John 1:1–3), actually became a man, being “made flesh” (our text). Since this verse and the following verses unequivocally refer to Jesus Christ (v. 17), there is no legitimate escape (though many have tried) from the great truth that the man called Jesus of Nazareth was the great God and Creator as well as perfect man and redeeming Savior. Furthermore, He has assumed human flesh forever while still remaining fully God. He is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

He is not part man and part God or sometimes man and sometimes God. He is now the God-man, fully and eternally true God and perfect man—man as God created and intended man to be (see Philippians 2:5–8 and 1 John 4:2–3).

When He first became man, He “dwelt among us” for a while. The word “dwelt,” however, is actually the Greek word for “tabernacled.” As in the tabernacle (or “tent”) prepared by Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 40:33), the glory of God in Christ dwelled on Earth for a time in a “body” prepared by God (Hebrews 10:5). We also “beheld his glory,” says His beloved disciple, John. The Greek word for “tabernacle” (skene) is a cognate word to shakan (the Hebrew word for “dwell”), both being related to what has come to be known as the Shekinah glory cloud that filled the ancient tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).

Eventually, when the Holy City descends out of heaven to the new earth, then “the tabernacle of God” will forever be “with men,” and He will “dwell with them” and “be their God” eternally (Revelation 21:3). Thus, God’s living Word is now and always our living Lord! HMM