This devotional comes from Miles McKee who is a good friend of WorshipTogether and a pastor to many Christian artists. If you want to subscribe to Miles' weekly devotional, you can email him at miles@milesmckee.com.
John 1:14, "And the word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us."
This verse is the shortest description of the Christmas story found in the 4 Gospels! It’s the Christmas story yet Bethlehem isn’t mentioned and neither is the manger! Mary and Joseph aren’t listed as spectators. There are no adoring shepherds; the angels and the Wise Men are absent, yet this is the story, the real story. This is, if you like, the story behind the story.
The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.
The infinite One became finite.
The invisible One became visible.
The incomprehensible One became comprehensible.
When the Word became flesh, God un-veiled Himself. What astonishing truths to meditate upon this Christmas season.
Which Word was it that became flesh? It was the same Word that already was in the beginning. We read in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word! ----- This phrase is rich with truth! It means that if we were to roll back the curtain of time we would find the Word. He was already there before the beginning. When was the beginning? We don’t know, but if ever we got back there we would discover that the Word was already in attendance. And this same Word became flesh; this Word became one of us, not to damn us, but to rescue us. Is this not a good reason for thankfulness this Christmas? Is this not cause for praise and adoration? God and man in one glorious person! God in flesh appearing, mighty to save! What rich and heart-warming truths to meditate upon.
Look at the manger and behold your God! It is staggering! Here is incontestable proof that God is not angry with His people; God is not frowning at us; God is not against us. He’s for us. He loves us passionately! Look and listen, there are no threats being issued from the manger. God has become one of us! Through Christ, His favor is resting upon us! Well may we sing “O come let us adore Him!”
God became a human, a real human, yet a sinless and perfect one and as a man He was, "holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners" (Hebrews 7:26). And this is the way it had to be because only a sinless sacrifice could rescue sinners like us from the wrath which is to come.
And so it is that here in the manger we see the arrival of our representative, made human so that He could become our substitute. This Child of Bethlehem is the unfolding of the eternal purposes of God. In this child, God’s passion for us is fully displayed.
When we consider that this little one would go on to pour out His blood for our sins and would redeem and reconcile us unto God then perhaps, as we meditate on Him, our song will not only be “Joy to the World” but also “Hallelujah, what a Savior!”
And that’s the Gospel Truth
Blessings
Miles
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