Christmas: The Word Made Flesh

by Dr. Gary Linton | Updated December 22nd, 2023

Over 2,000 years ago the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us for the express purpose of leading God out into the open for all to see. Through this Christ child the world would actually be able to see what God is like. It was made possible for us to really be able to understand the depths of God’s divine love and compassion for the human race. By means of the incarnation we see the Father in all His glory.

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John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.”

In the Beginning

This Word (Logos) was already there when time began. Therefore He was there with Father God and was Himself God. He was there before the recesses of time. The babe in the manger, before the incarnation, already existed in eternity past. He coexisted with God the Father. John later on proclaimed Him as the Word of Life.

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God!”

Psalms 90:2 – “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

Micah 5:2 – “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

The Word Was God

It’s important we understand that Jesus was not just a man but that He was very God. The divinity of Christ is one of the most essential doctrines in scripture. If we don’t have this right then we have the wrong Jesus. Paul made it clear that there would be those who would proclaim another Jesus which is a false one. He was and is very God. We must not only believe this but also be able to defend His deity with God’s Word.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 – “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”

John 5:18 – “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”

John 8:56-59 – “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at Him.”

John 10:30-33 – “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me? The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God.”

John 14:8-9 – “Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?”

Colossians 2:9 – “For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Hebrews 1:8 – “But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.”

Revelation 1:8 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

The Word Was Made Flesh

During the Christmas season we’re reminded of the incarnation. The Eternal Word putting on human flesh. The babe in the manger was the incarnation of God in human flesh. God dwelling among mankind. Hypostatic union, the union of Christ’s humanity and divinity in one hypostasis, or individual person-hood. In the most basic terms, the concept of hypostatic union states that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. He is simultaneously perfectly divine and perfectly human, having two complete and distinct natures at once.

John 1:14 – “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.”

Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

1 Timothy 3:16 – “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Philippians 2:6-7 – “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

1 John 1:1-2 – “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life; For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.”

God Led Out into the Open

Through the birth of Christ and Him being manifest in the flesh God was led out into the open that we might really see, grasp, and understand what God is really like. No man had ever seen God so we were limited as to our understanding of Him.

Moses surely God but not in His full essence (Exodus 33:19-23). Isaiah likewise saw a vision of the glory of God (Isaiah 6:1). But none could really know Him. Jesus taking on humanity made this possible. Through Him we catch a glimpse of God.

John 1:18 – “No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”

The word declared is exegeomai in the Greek. It means to expound or reveal a mystery, to lead out into the open. Jesus led God out into the open for all to see. Through Him we can finally see and begin to understand Who God is and what He’s like. Jesus led God out into the open for all to see.

Hebrews 1:3 – “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The Purpose for Which He was Manifest

The purpose for which the Word (Jesus) was manifest, revealed, and led out into the open for all to see was the cross. During His life on earth, particularly His three years of ministry, Jesus showed mankind what the Father was like. God’s love, compassion, and power.

Ultimately Jesus would reveal the Father’s heart, love, and sacrifice on Golgotha’s or Calvary’s hill. This was the manifestation and true revelation of God’s sacrificial love for humanity. He gave His own Son as a sacrificial offering for the sins of the world that we might be saved and escape judgment. Oh if we could ever begin to grasp and comprehend the love of God and Christ for us it would revolutionize and transform us.

Ephesians 4:7 – “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Ephesians 3:17a-19 – “That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

The four-fold aspect of the love of God and Christ:

The breadth. This has to with the extent of His love for us and all mankind – the world. His love reaches around the globe to all mankind. It extends to all races, social classes, bond and free, rich and poor, religious and depraved. His love was manifest to all through His vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice for the world.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The length. This has to do with the dimension of His love. It reaches through all time. His love extends to from eternity past, present, and future to all generations. He was verily “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
John 1:29 – “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

The depth. His love reaches to the depth and lowest condition of man, even hell itself. Throughout eternity lost men will be reminded that He loved them and they could have escaped eternal torment had they not rejected Jesus. While there’s still time, we must know and receive Him and His love.
His love also reaches to the depth of our depravity, to our lowest place, situation, and condition. There’s no depth to which we might fall or situation we might find ourselves in that His love isn’t there to bring us out. Betsy Ten Boom, when asked by Corrie her sister, why God had allowed their suffering, Betsy relied, “to show us there’s no pit so deep that He and His love is not deeper still.”
The height. This deals with heavenly happiness and bliss. This has to do with both eternity and the here and now. If allowed, His love will take us to the heights of glory, victory, and abundance. His love will ultimately take to glory all who’ve placed their faith and trust in Him.
John 10:10 – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Philippians 3:20 – “For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
John 14:1-3 – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Will you accept His love for you right now. He loves you beyond your greatest comprehension. If you’ll believe and receive our Lord’s love it will take you from the depths of your condition and take you to the heights of heavenly happiness and bliss and you’ll be filled with all the fullness of God. Accept Jesus and God’s love for you NOW.

2 Corinthians 6:2 – “For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured (helped) thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.”

Prayer: Lord, I accept Your love for me right now. I know and believe You sent Jesus to reveal Yourself and to offer Himself a sacrifice for my sins on the cross and that He rose from the dead. I accept Him as my Lord and Savoir. Come into my heart Jesus and help me to live for You from this day forward. In Jesus name!