Bud Helmen

John 1:14

Thursday, February 15

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

The book of Genesis and the book of John begin with the same three words, "In the Beginning." In the book of Genesis, it says "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." In the book of John, it says "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." All things came into being through him, without him not one thing came into being.

As I read on, I come to the fourteenth verse that says, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." I interpret that to mean that God became man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth and lived on earth as as true man. It is in him that I confess when I say, in the words of Martin Luther's explanation of the second article of the Small Catechism: "I believe that Jesus Christ, True God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord."

There may be a number of similarities in many different religions; and many believe that Jesus was a good ma; but when confronted with the Biblical contention that Jesus was both True God and True Man many do not agree. That is the claim of Christianity as stated in John when he writes "The Lord became Flesh and lived among us."

Questions for Reflection:

• How do you deal with the statement when Jesus says: "The Father and I are One"?
• Does the word "flesh" mean that God became man to you?

Prayer:

Help me to better understand that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. Amen.