Remember for the first three days this week we are talking through the statement of Jesus incarnation in John 1:14
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.
Yesterday we talked the meaning of "the Word" today let's look at John's assertion that this Word became flesh. The language John chooses to use here is very important. He says that the word became flesh. This indicates a fundamental change in his nature. He didn't just appear to take on human form. In the dualistic Greek world of the day that wouldn't be uncommon at all. The Gnostics (a prevalent early church heresy that attempted to blend Christian thought with Greek pagan religious categories) would expect the gods to do that often. However, a god becoming a man is akin to heresy in Gnostic thought.
This also gives great credibility to the material world. The Gnostics believed that the material world was evil and the spiritual is good. The Christian view challenges that by the simple assertion that God, the one true God of the universe, became man.
In this change to his nature we must also note that this is solely an addition to his nature, not a subtraction. When Jesus incarnates he doesn't become less God to make room for him to become more human. He remains fully God, just has he becomes fully man. In the words of the ancient church from the Council of Chalcedon in the 5th century these two natures remain unmingled in one person. This is what's known as the hypostatic union. Despite how strange and sci-fi, comic book it sounds, Jesus becomes the God-man.
As the author of Hebrews clearly articulates, it was absolutely necessary for Jesus to be both God and man in order to mediate the new covenant between humanity and God. As a man he can relate to our weaknesses and yet be without sin. He can identify with humans. As God he can be the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world. He has the authority to forgive sins because it is he whom humans have offended. Both aspects of his nature are necessary.
I know this is strange, but when we ponder the mystery of the hypostatic union we can appreciate the perfection of God's plan of redemption and cherish the humility of our savior.
Additional Content
Bible Project Podcast: God's Word, Spirit, and Wisdom
Reflection
Reflect on God becoming human. He can identify with you. He knows experientially your sorrow, your pain, your struggles. He was tempted just as you are and remained sinless. Consider his humility, his love and sacrifice for you. We cannot fathom the leap from heaven to earth, divine to human. How can you model this humility, sacrifice and love for those around you.
Audio
for additional content ff to 3:30