The Word Became Flesh: Part 2

The Pre-Existence, Work, and Rejection of the Word

The Word becomes flesh. The Word becomes flesh. I'd like to finish up this one text before us. But first, let's bow in prayer together as we take this time to seek our Lord. Seek His face and ask for His blessing and His presence to be with us as we look at this wonderful, wonderful verse of Scripture before us.

Our Father and our God, we thank You, Lord. We praise You, Lord. We give You glory and honor for You alone are worthy. Lord, as we bow in Your presence, You are the only one that is worthy of glory and honor and praise and power and thanksgiving.

Lord, we bless Your holy name now. Lord, as the Puritan prayed, may this be our prayer as well. Take away the affirmatives of our unruly desires and hateful lust. Lift the mist and darkness of unbelief.

Brighten my soul within the pure light of truth and make it fragrant as the garden of paradise, rich with every goodly fruit. Beautiful with heavenly grace, radiant with rays of divine light. Lord, fulfill in me the glory of Thy divine offices and be my comforter, my light, my God, my sanctifier and take of these things of Christ and show them to my soul.

Through Thee may I daily learn more of His love, grace and compassion, faithfulness and beauty. Our Father, Lord Jesus, may this be our great desire and our prayer today. Above all things, that we may glorify You.

Blessed Lord, turn our eyes upon Jesus now, the author and finisher of our faith. Look full, that we may look full in His wonderful face. The things and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

And Lord, we ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus for Your honor and glory. Amen. In this wonderful gospel of John, as we have been studying together, we have seen so far, in chapter 1, as we have embarked on this journey together, in verse 1 and 2, we have seen the pre-existence of the Word.

The pre-existence of the Word. In verse 1 and 2, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and He was in the beginning with God. Second, we have seen in verse 3 through 5, the work and the nature of the Word.

The work and the nature of the Word. All things were made through Him and without Him, nothing was made that was made. And in Him was life and the life was the light of man and the light shines in darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it or distinguish it.

Third, we have seen in verse 6 through 8, the forerunner of the Word. First, the pre-existence of the Word. The work and the nature of the Word. Fourth, in verse 6 through 8, the forerunner of the Word.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness to bear witness of the light. That all through him might believe. He was not that light. But he was sent to bear witness of that light.

Fourth, we have seen in verse 9 through 11, the rejection of the Word. The rejection of the Word. That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through Him and the world did not know Him.

He came unto His own and His own did not receive Him. Fifth, we have seen in verse 12 and 13, the receiving of the Word. The receiving of the Word. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.

To those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. And now we come to our text. The sixth outline. The Word became flesh. The Word became flesh.

The pre-existence of the Word. The work and nature of the Word. The forerunner of the Word. The rejection of the Word. The receiving of the Word. And now the Word became flesh. Verse 14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory.

The glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus has always existed as the Son of God. According to the Word of God, He was with the Father in heaven, but now chose to come into the world and take upon Himself a human body.

Flesh.

This is no doubt the Apostle John's most startling statement so far. It would have amazed both the thinkers in both the Jewish and the Greek world to hear such divine revelation. The Word. The Logos. The Logos became flesh.

Commentator Timmy put it this way. And I think this is a wonderful comment on this one wonderful great text before us. He says this. The Greeks generally thought of God too low. They thought of Him too low.

And to them, John wrote this. The Word became flesh. And he says, to ancient people, gods, lowercase g, such as Zeus and Hermes were simply supermen. They were not equal to the order and reason of the Logos.

John told the Greek thinkers, the Logos, you know, made and ordered the universe, actually. And became flesh. He continues this thought on this verse. He says, the Jews generally thought of God too high.

Too high. I thought, what is he saying here for a moment? Can you really think of God too high? Let's see what he's talking about here. To them, to the Jews, John wrote, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

He says this.

Ancient Jews had a hard time accepting that the great God revealed in the Old Testament could take on human form. You see where he's going with this. John told the Jewish thinkers, the Word of God became flesh.

He continues. God has come close to you in Jesus Christ. You don't have to struggle to find Him. He came to you. Some think they go from place to place to try and find God and continue their search. But more commonly, they stay at the place until God draws close to them.

And then they quickly move on. But Christ entered into a new dimension of existence through the gateway of human birth. And took up His residence among men. So it was very difficult for the Greeks to think of this great revelation and to believe in this God.

Yahweh, the Logos, would become flesh. They thought of Him too low and the Jewish people thought of Him too high. That it would be beyond Him to condescend and become flesh. But He did. Scripture says He dwelt among us.

He dwelt among us. What a great revelation, isn't it? The incarnation of Jesus Christ. The idea behind this wonderful phrase is more literally, dwelt as a tent among us. He pitched His tent. It was not just as a short appearance or for a short time.

But about which there might be some mistake or misunderstanding. No, God Himself actually came to this earth. And by the way, in parenthesis, a footnote here. We know what Scripture says. He made this world.

He came to the world in which He made. And dwelt among us. He pitched His tent among us. Lived here as a man among men. Isn't that amazing? The One who created the worlds and this earth, planet earth.

He literally came here and pitched His tent in flesh. He tabernacled among us. As some translations say. He pitched His tent among us. His body was that tent. His body was that tent in which He lived among men for 33 years.

33 years. And again, I quote what the Apostle John. Here as he begins the opening of the fourth gospel. But he also brings this by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Speaking of it, we beheld His glory.

The glory is of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. In 1 John 1 through 3. Which was from the beginning. Which we have heard. Which we have seen with our eyes. Which we have looked upon.

Speaking of the other apostles. And which our hands have handled concerning the word of life. The life was manifested. And we have seen and bear witness and declare to you. That eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.

That which we have seen and heard and declare to you. That you also may have fellowship with us. There is the purpose of it right there. That you may have fellowship with us. And truly, truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Praise God. They beheld His glory. That word beheld is strong. Actually it is stronger than the words saw or looked. But John literally tells us that He and other disciples carefully studied the glory of the word that was made flesh.

They studied Him. They saw Him. They handled Him. They heard Him.

Literally.

Physically. The apostles heard and seen and handled Christ. This is glorious. Think of this. The verb here beheld. That is an important word. Let's look at this word for a moment. They beheld. That word beheld is used in John here as for that matter in the whole New Testament of seeing with the bodily eye.

Physically.

They saw Him. They beheld Him. It is not used of visions. It is used of they literally saw Him. John is speaking of that glory that was seen in the literal sense. The literal physical Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And we beheld His glory. We beheld His glory. In the Bible the word glory often means the bright shining light. Let's look at this word glory. This is what we want to really focus on here.

It is the glory.

The brightness.

The shining light which was seen when God was present. When God was present. Glory as the one and only from the Father. Emphasizing that the glory of Jesus. The word. The Logos. Is the same as the glory of God the Father.

That same glory that was in God the Father. Jesus Christ the Son. Has that same equal glory. That same equal glory. Actually the Greek term here monogenous. Monogenous. That word monogenous in the Greek means one and only.

He is unique. There is none like Him. This is why the Bible says there is none beside me. Says the Lord. There is none beside me. It carries the sense of uniqueness. Uniqueness. Special beloved status.

Special beloved status. Actually John 3 .16 says this. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten. Only begotten Son. That word only begotten. Means His one and only. His one and only Son.

We beheld His glory. Says the Apostle John. And this word glory. Is very significant. That is what we are going to look at most of the time. Of our worship here. As we look into this wonderful text. The glory is significant.

And it is an important word. And in the Greek. The word glory means doxa. Doxa. It is where we get the word worship. Doxa. Doxology. Giving God glory. Meaning a state of being bright and radiant. Magnificent.

Honor.

And majestic. Majesty. God's majesty. How can we describe with human words this? That is actually as far as I believe we can go. And beyond that we do not know. Because God is so great in His glory. And I want you to think for a second.

This is what Lucifer desired to have. This is what he desired. Above all things. He wanted God's glory. And you know the story. In scripture. As he desired that. This created being that God made. To worship God.

Desired lustfully. To want God's glory. And God would not share His glory in that sense with another. Now we could share in to that glory. And only as children of God. But this archangel wanted all this glory to himself.

And Jesus said He was cast out of heaven like lightning. And He fell to the earth. Not by accident. God purposefully cast Him here. Because He is part of God's plan now. It is hard for anyone to see this.

But even the evil that is taking place. And all the sin.

Think of this.

Sin really originated in the heart of an archangel. That lustfully wanted, desired God's glory. He says I will be like the most high. I will raise myself. I will be on the throne.

I, I.

God cast Him down. You see, this word glory alludes also to the manifestations of the divine glory. In the Old Testament where Yahweh, the Lord's presence could be found. In the tabernacle. And in the temple.

Now we see this in Exodus chapter 40. Turn with me there to Exodus. Have your Bible ready. Because we are going to move pretty quickly through these verses. But it is very important for us to grasp. As the Holy Spirit would help us to see this.

Because the Spirit of God is really the truth. Spirit of truth. That teaches the truth. Of this great, magnificent God. And we see this in Exodus chapter 40. Look at this in verse, beginning with 34. Verse 34 through 38.

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle. That is the glory. The cloud and the glory. We will see this later on in Isaiah 6. It is the same glory, same cloud covered the tabernacle of beating. And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of beating. Because the cloud rested above it. And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle.

The children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up. Then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day.

And the fire was over it by night. And the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. Now there we see scriptures on the cloud and the glory of the Lord in the tabernacle. The meeting place where God met men.

And would meet with Moses specifically. Interesting in verse 35. Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of beating. Because the cloud rested above it. The glory of the Lord. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Numbers 14 .10. You can turn there. But this is a wonderful verse. But speaks of the consequences of those that sinned against the Lord. And all the congregation said to stone them with the stones. And then it says.

Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the meeting. Before all the children of Israel. Once again we see it in the temple which Solomon had built for the Lord. He didn't build it for himself, did he?

He built this temple for the Lord. Go with me to 1 Kings chapter 8. Very significant verse. In 1 Kings chapter 8. And 10 and 11 specifically. I like to back up a little bit here. And let's read to get the context of everything that's being said here.

Very insightful verse of scripture. We see that the ark is brought into the temple. In the first portion of this. And that's what we want to look at. Look at the verse 3. So all the elders of Israel came.

And the priests took up the ark. Then they brought up the ark of the Lord. The tabernacle of meeting. And all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priest and the Levites brought them up.

They were specifically appointed. Only the priest and Levites could do this. Because of those furnishings were set apart. Specifically for worship unto the Lord. Because the Lord is holy. Verse 5. And also King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel.

Who were assembled with them. Were with them because before the ark. Sacrificing sheep and oxen. That could not be counted or numbered or for multitude. Then the priest brought up. In the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

To its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple. To the most holy place. Under the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark. And the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.

The poles extended so that the ends of the poles. Could be seen from the holy place. In front of the inner sanctuary. But they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone.

Which Moses put there at Horeb. When the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel. And when they came out of the land of Egypt. And it came to pass. When the priest came out of the holy place.

That the cloud filled the house of the Lord. There is that cloud again. What is that? That is the presence of the Lord. Coming in a cloud. The glory of the Lord. Verse 11. So that the priest could not continue ministering.

Because of the clouds. For the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Then Solomon spoke. The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud. And I have surely built you an exalted house. And a place for you to dwell forever.

And isn't it amazing there. In the Old Testament. This structure was built. Specifically for the Lord to dwell in. And now God is dwelling in hearts. In the temple of flesh. Because Christ came in flesh.

As He came. And He was that glory in flesh. The glory of the Father. And dwelt among us. Lived a perfect life. Died. Buried. Rose again. Now at the Father's right hand. And now the Spirit of God dwells within us.

Believers.

Isn't that incredible? The heavens of heavens. Can't even contain them. We also see something else I'd like to speak to you about. Just for a few minutes. When we're talking about the glory of the Lord.

It's the Old Testament. Sightings in a sense. Of where we see in Scripture. Theophany. This is an interesting word. Let's talk about this word. Theophany. Theophany is the appearance of God that people can discern.

And not all appearances of God are recognized by people by the way. But the term comes from the Greek. Theo. Meaning God. And the verb. Phane. Phane.

Phane.

I think I'm. Or Phaneo. It's theophany. Meaning to appear to be revealed. Appear to be revealed. Now since people cannot possibly process God. Now I want you to think of this. And we cannot process God's holy nature.

Because he's so holy. In his glory. In his formless spirit. God is spirit. Theophany allows God to make his presence known. In a physical way. That people can discern. Through their senses. Through our senses.

These theophanies also address the problem in the Old Testament. Here's another interesting thought that I'd like to set before you. Is that people cannot withstand direct contact with God. The most holy God.

Because of his divine presence. Because we would disintegrate. We would disintegrate. The almighty God. In his brightness. In his majestic glory. Is so glorious. So majestic and holy. If we were to even come.

Right before his manifest presence. We would literally turn to ashes. Instantly.

I believe that.

And Exodus. Exodus 33 20.

Says this.

God says to Moses. And we're going to go back to this in application. I like to look at this in application. But he said. You cannot see my face. For no man shall see me. And live. No man shall see me.

And live. So theophany both protects the people. And allows for contact with God. Interesting thought isn't it? It's that gulf. That gulf that is between the most holy God. And the most sinful people.

The earliest theophany. In human form. Aside from the possibility of Genesis 3 8. Let's go to Genesis 3 8. I believe this is a theophany. In a sense. God comes. But this is before sin came into the world.

Now this is probably the earliest recording we see. That God himself comes. In the garden of Eden.

To have fellowship.

With Adam. And his wife.

And.

Eventually his wife. When she's made out of.

And.

She's here.

But the fall takes place. In this chapter. The serpent is seen. In the garden. He lies. A deceiving lie. To Adam and Eve. And eventually comes to Eve first. To get to Adam. That was ultimately the goal.

But we see here in verse 8. That after their eyes were both. In verse 7. That both of them were open. They knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together. And made themselves coverings.

To hide themselves of their nakedness. Because now their eyes were open. Verse 8. And they heard the sound of the Lord God. Walking in the garden. In the cool of the day. And Adam and his wife hid themselves.

From the presence of the Lord God. Among the trees of the garden. Isn't that interesting? They heard the sound of the Lord God. Walking. In the garden of the cool of the day. So God came to fellowship.

But here. After sin came in. He already knew this. He began to ask the question. And the first one he calls is to Adam. And said to him. Where are you Adam? He wanted Adam to know where he was. Adam did not know where he was spiritually.

He was fallen. But God knew where he was. That is a sense of theophany. That God comes.

Fellowships.

He walked and talked with them. In the garden.

In the cool of the day.

Now there is another appearance that we see in Genesis. A lot of these are in Genesis. Very very interesting. If you go to Genesis chapter 12. Turn a few chapters with me. We see a theophany. With Abraham.

Abraham the father of our faith. We see this in verse 1 through 6. Now the Lord said to Abram. Get out of your country. From your family and from your father's house. To a land I will show you. I will make you a great nation.

And I will bless you. And make your name great. And you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you. And I will curse him who curses you. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

And then it says in Abram. This is before he was called Abraham. Because of the covenant that God makes with him. But here he is Abram. So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him. And Lot went with him.

And Abram was 75 years old. And he departed from Haran. And then Abram took Sarai his wife. And Lot his brother's son. And all their possessions that they gathered. And the people whom they had acquired in Haran.

And they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. Now the point I am trying to say is. The Lord said to Abram. I believe there is a theophany here. Now if you go to Genesis 15.

After Abram is called out of the land of the Ur the Chaldees. God makes a covenant with Abram. And then once again in verse 1. After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. Saying do not be afraid Abram.

I am your shield and your seemingly great reward. But Abram said Lord God. What will you give me? Seeing I go childless. And an heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus. And then Abram said. Look you have given me no offspring indeed.

One born in my house is my heir. And then he says. And behold the word of the Lord came to him saying. This one shall not be your heir. But one who will come from your own body shall be your heir. And he is speaking of Isaac isn't he?

And Isaac was a miracle child.

They literally.

His wife conceived at an old age. Around 90 years old. And that is why they actually laughed about it. Now go with me. Let's see that story. Genesis 18. Genesis 18. We see this. The son of promise. God literally physically came down.

To visit Abram.

Or Abraham.

Then the Lord appeared in verse 1. To him in the terebinth trees of Mamre. And he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes. And looked and behold. Three men standing by him.

And when he saw them. He ran to the tent door to meet them. And bowed himself to the ground. Folks.

Look at that.

He is bowing himself to the ground. And he is worshipping. And he said my Lord. He calls him my Lord. Now one of those men was God.

In flesh.

This is a theophany. He is able to see him. To handle him. To touch him. But God comes and shields himself. In a marvelous way. Because if he came in his glory. Abraham would have disintegrated. And look at what he says.

Abraham says. And I have now. If I have now found favor in your sight. Do not pass on by your servant. Please let a little water be brought. And wash your feet. He wants to wash his feet. He wants to give tremendous.

And wonderful hospitality. And rest yourselves under the tree. And then he says in verse 5. I will bring a morsel of bread. And that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by. And so much as you have come to your servant.

They said. Do as you have said. So Abraham hurried into the tent. To Sarah. And said quickly. Make ready three measures of fine meal. And knead it. And make cakes. You notice. I am sure there is an urgency here.

And desires to get. Because he knows this is God folks. With two angels with him. And Abraham ran to the herd. And took a tender good calf. He wants to put one of the best meals he can.

Together.

He gave it to a young man. And hastened to prepare it. He was in a hurry. And then he took butter and milk. And a calf. Which he had prepared. And set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree.

As they ate.

And basically. They had a conversation. And it was basically. That conversation was about the son of promise.

Isaac.

Was to be born. We also see the Lord appears to Isaac. In Genesis 26 -2. You can jump to Genesis 26 -2. Look at what it said. Then the Lord appeared to him and said. Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land which I shall tell you.

So he appears to Abraham. He appears to Isaac. He appears to Jacob. Again he appeared to Isaac again. In verse 23 and 24. His next appearance is Isaac's son Jacob. In Genesis 28. 10 -13. Now Jacob went out from Beersheba.

And went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place. And stayed there all night. Because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones to a place. And put it at his head. And he laid down in that place to sleep.

Then he dreamed.

And behold.

A ladder was set up on the earth. And its top reached to heaven. And there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

And behold.

The Lord stood above it and said. I am the Lord God of Abraham your father. And the God of Isaac. And the land on which you lie I will give you. To you and to your descendants. And your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth.

And shall spread abroad to the west and to the east. And to the north and the south. And in you and in your seed. All the families of the earth shall be blessed. And it goes on. That's the covenant that God is bringing to him.

And Jacob makes a vow at Bethel after he sees God. And then he says in verse 17. And he was afraid and said. How awesome is this place. Notice these men that met God. Something happened to them. There is none other than the house of God.

This is the gate of heaven. Because God was there. God himself was there. And it's interesting also in Acts. You can jump to Acts chapter 7 I believe. Comes to mind. That a powerful deacon of the church.

That preached and was martyred. His name was Stephen. And he brings this up in his message. Before he was martyred. And put to death with stones. By stones. Acts 7. 2 through 4.

Notice what he says.

And he said. Brethren and fathers.

Listen.

The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham. When he was in Mesopotamia. Before he dwelt in Haran. Notice the scriptures he just preaches. And said to him. Get out of the country. And from your relatives.

And come to a land which I will show you. And then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans. And dwelt in Haran. And from there he was with his father. When his father was dead. He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.

And God gave him no inheritance in it. Not even though. I am sorry. Even enough to set his foot on it. But even when Abraham had no child. He promised to give it to him for a possession. And to his descendants after him.

But God spoke in this way. That his descendants would dwell in the foreign land. And that they would bring them into bondage. And oppress them for 400 years. God told Abraham that. Right? Verse 7. And the nation to whom they will be in bondage.

I will judge.

That's Egypt. And said God. And after that. That they shall come out and serve me in this place. And then verse 8. And then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham begot Isaac. And circumcised him on the eighth day.