Chapter 34—The Word Made Flesh
[
This article appeared in
The Review and Herald, April 5, 1906
.]
“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. All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And
the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
“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” (
John 1:1-5, 14
).
This chapter delineates the character and importance of the work
of Christ. As one who understands his subject, John ascribes all power
to Christ, and speaks of His greatness and majesty. He flashes forth
divine rays of precious truth, as light from the sun. He presents Christ
as the only Mediator between God and humanity.
The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ in human flesh is a mys-
tery, “even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations” (
Colossians 1:26
). It is the great and profound mystery
of godliness. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (
John
1:14
). Christ took upon Himself human nature, a nature inferior to His
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heavenly nature. Nothing so shows the wonderful condescension of
God as this. He “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son” (
John 3:16
). John presents this wonderful subject with such
simplicity that all may grasp the ideas set forth, and be enlightened.
Christ did not make believe take human nature; He did verily
take it. He did in reality possess human nature. “As the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the
same” (
Hebrews 2:14
). He was the son of Mary; He was of the seed of
David according to human descent. He is declared to be a man, even
the Man Christ Jesus. “This man,” writes Paul, “was counted worthy
of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house
hath more honour than the house” (
Hebrews 3:3
).
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