John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

               This verse is one of the most important verses in John. It is often overlooked because it is not as flashy, but it encapsulates what the gospel is about. It doesn’t necessarily show you what it is for but what John does here is summarize what every gospel is talking about, the basics of belief and truly knowing God as John mentions in the paragraph before. These points are brought out in a very direct way as John is not one to assume anything. He clearly states what he will show throughout the rest of the gospel.

               First, the Word, which is Jesus, came in the flesh. John wants to dispel any myths that the Word was not in the flesh. He wants the reader to understand directly that the Word of God became flesh. Not only did He become flesh, but He also dwelt among us, among other people who are flesh. There are two aspects to understand and believe about this point—that Jesus came in the flesh, and that it was so completely that He was able to interact by dwelling among people. John is trying to combat the heresy of Gnosticism that says Christ was just spirit that floated above the body. John dispels that by directly saying He came in the flesh.

               The second point that John is making is that John, the disciples, and everyone who saw Jesus were witnesses to His glory. There are many witnesses to the glory of God in Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. It is not some tale made up in someone’s head, but a fact of history written down by at least four eyewitnesses. Most of the eyewitnesses never even wrote down the story but are still witnesses to the glory Jesus brings.

               The third point is that this glory is from God. As John states, this glory is “as of the only son from the father.” We see here that John calls out Jesus as the only son, meaning the only true son that brings the glory of God to bare so completely on the earth. In this verse, Jesus comes from the Father—meaning on a mission from. We already know he is also equal in power and might as the Father, yet we see here He is submitting Himself to come from the Father for their own glory, the glory of God. We see in John a piece of the working of the triune God, two persons of the trinity working in perfect purpose.

               This verse is capped off with a statement with two important motifs which will be throughout the rest of the book, grace and truth. Grace invokes what we see when Jesus is led to the slaughter for us. Grace is what we see as He forgives those on the cross. Jesus still maintains grace after He rises again extending it to His disciples who fled and the rest of the world. Truth is the other motif, and this is directly stated in the gospel. Jesus is going to be described as the true vine, or the way, the truth, and the life. John is showing that there is true truth in Jesus, nothing hidden. It is all out there for the world to understand. For the world to know God, the maker of the universe.

               If we believe this, we cannot be silent about it. Jesus came down in the flesh to give all of Himself so that we might be inheritors of God’s glory. This is a call to action for those who believe to share what they believe with the rest of the world not just for their salvation but also for our own edification so we might be fulfilled in the purpose God has for us. We are all witnesses to His glory, and as witnesses we cannot stay silent. We need to be in the word, but as we are we need to share such insight with those around us.

               For those who do not believe or might be considered on the fence, He came in the flesh, and this is not just some story a person made up. As John shows, this is an event that was witnessed by all who lived around Him. Jesus sowed the glory of the father, and He did it in grace and truth. I know you might have had a bad experience with people who have been called Christians which might taint your opinion, but do not look towards them. Do as Christ followers do—look towards the God man, Jesus, who came to reveal God’s glory to the whole world in grace and truth. Two aspects to accept—the easiest and hardest thing to do—that He came in grace and mercy, but He also came in truth so that you might believe in the truth.