God’s Word became a ManJohn 1:1-14

Years ago I had software that would transform one picture into another, for instance my face into that of a zebra. It is called ‘morphing’ and was often amusing.

One important result of this process was a better understanding of incarnation. Since using it, I could imagine the speech or words of God being transformed into a human being, a perfect man named Jesus.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

This passage goes on to explain what He is, why the very Word of God became flesh, and how He was received (or not) . . .  

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it . . . The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 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.” (John 1:1-14)

God spoke and the universe was created. His words are that powerful. Yet the Bible says those words are singular, the Word. It was Jesus, the eternal Son of God who created all things. He is also the light of this dark world and so powerful that darkness must flee when His light shines.

That requires some cooperation, but sin blinds eyes and keeps people in the dark. When the Word came to Israel, God’s chosen people, they were looking for a political leader to get them out from under Roman oppression; they didn’t recognize Him as their Messiah, their Savior. Only a few did . . .  and after He died and rose again, that few grew into a multitude. Since then, millions have trusted Jesus and welcomed Him into their lives. To those He has given a glimpse of His glory, and we see His grace and truth.

Sin’s demise is illustrated in an Old Testament story. Deadly snakes bit everyone. God told Moses to create a bronze snake on a pole. Everyone who looked at it would be spared from certain death . . .

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)

^^^^^^^^^^

Oh Lord Jesus, such a wonder to think of who You are and what You have done. Today, that image of a snake (or two snakes depending on the version chosen) is a symbol of the medical profession. This symbol is supposedly rooted in Greek mythology, but every time I see it, I think of You, the Great Physician. You heal the worst disease of all — sin. Sin affects every person alive and is totally without human cure. You are the only medicine that can erase it and its deadly power. Our part is to look to You, trust You, receive You, believing in Your name. My Lord and God, Jesus Christ — what a wonder You are!

What’s in your closet . . . ?

My closet holds a couple of items that I’ve never worn. They fit. They look good on me. I have no reason except perhaps that the right occasion has not presented itself. In a practical sense, I might as well not have these articles of clothing.

My spiritual life, even my physical life, is by the grace of God. It fits too, and when living by grace, it makes me a far better person. But there are times that I act as if I don’t have “grace in my closet” for I leave it hanging there and instead wear the old garment of the old me, as if grace is not mine at all.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 5:21–6:1)

Jesus took my sin (that old garment) that I might wear His righteousness. To leave it in the closet is tantamount to having received grace in vain. How senseless is that?

Not only must I ask that question, I must consider it in light of what Chambers says. He declares that the grace I had yesterday, or even an hour ago, will not do for today, or for right now. Grace is that amazing overflow of God’s blessing, undeserved yet always available for His people.

First, grace is why I am saved. Romans 3:23–24 says, “ . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . . . .”

This salvation is received by faith, yet grace offers it to all who believe . . .

“So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 11:5–6)

Because of grace, I’ve no reason to be proud of myself . . .

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

Paul knew he was blessed, yet he did not leave grace hanging in his closet. He said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

The grace of God is a beautiful robe, but it is also whatever it needs to be. I cannot say that this wonderful blessing is only for special occasions. It is also for ordinary occasions, for those days when no one sees me and I work alone.

Chambers says that too, but also points out that praying and asking God to help is not about preparation for work. Instead, I am to pray and ask for grace, drawing on God’s grace for every moment, for all situations, for struggles, and for those days when all goes well.

Paul talked about being “In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors,” and the grace of God made him a great leader. God’s grace is His divine work that makes me what He wants me to be in every conceivable situation or condition I am in.

So why leave it or ignore it? Paul spoke of his many situations and included these words, “as having nothing yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10). The only other garments in his closet were filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and the same is true for me. However, to wear grace, I must admit to and willingly confess that I have nothing. I am poor and needy, and must rely totally on what God does for me.

Chambers calls it “poverty triumphant.” I call it chucking my pride and being overjoyed that in Christ I do not have to wear rags.

He still receives sinners

No matter what you do, somebody is apt to grumble about it. I knew a woman who, when they stayed home grumbled that they never went out, and when they went out, she grumbled that they never stayed home. We all know people who fiddle with the thermostat because it is either too warm or too cold. The tea is too strong or too weak. The toast is too light or too dark. Nothing ever suits them.

Jesus was perfect, the only person who never sinned. He treated everyone with respect and always did and said the right things, but people complained about Him too. 

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2)

For the religious leaders of His day, receiving and eating with sinners was tantamount to defiling yourself with the same sins. Imagine thinking that. If I want to be pure, I could not spend time with people who are impure? Who qualifies? I don’t, and I don’t know anyone who does.

Yet Jesus, the perfect man, receives sinners. Why should He do that? For one thing, He had no fear of defiling Himself. He said that defilement comes from the heart, and His heart was pure. He was safe, but that was not one of His reasons for spending time with sinners. Perhaps the most important motivation was that He had the power to forgive their sin. He loved them so much that He willing gave His life that sinners could be pardoned.

Other people might receive sinners. Those in exalted positions sometimes hold receptions for common people, that they might “receive” them. But this is not the same as what Jesus did. Think of royalty waving to passing beggars or receiving sinners in an “out-of-doors reception place” or a special location where they offer charitable entertainment.

Instead, Jesus opens the gates of His heart, and receives sinners right into Himself. This reception is an intimate personal union in which Jesus makes repentant sinners members of His own body. There is no other reception like this.

Perhaps the most amazing part of it is the humility and lowliness involved. Jesus is far above all others, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from even the best of humanity, yet He receives all, even the lowest of the low. He is none other than the eternal God; angels bow before Him and worlds were created by Him, yet He receives sinners.

Humanity raises its fist against God, and if not quite that brash, sinners silently and sinfully still go our own way. Sinners reject His plan of salvation or just ignore Him. Yet He still took upon Himself the form of a servant and bore our sins. That He is willing to receive the vilest of the vile, or even the most self-righteous goody-two-shoes is marvelous and beyond comprehension.

However, He does not hold a reception party, pat sinners on the head and wish them a better life. His offer is new life. The sinners that He receives do not have to remain that way. He will take them from whatever state they are in, transform their lives, and wear them as jewels in His crown — but only if they are willing to be received and changed. 

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12–13)

It is a great wonder that Jesus receives sinners, but for this greater wonder of new life and adoption into the family of God to take place, sinners must also receive Him.

**************

Jesus, many years ago I did not know how to describe You or Your invitation to me. I just knew that my life was a mess and that I needed help. In that helplessness, You walked in, revealing who You are and inviting me to come to You. At that point, nothing sounded better and resistance was not an issue. It is the same today. In You, there is acceptance, love, joy, peace and perfection. Because You have received me, I have absolutely nothing to grumble about.

Take and Open

Imagine someone purchasing one gift for each person in the whole world. The gifts are identical and desirable. Each one cost the giver a great deal but are free to those whose name is marked on the tag. Imagine those gifts lined up and the giver announces that the gifts are ready. Whoever wants their gift must simple receive it.

But the gifts are eyed with suspicion. Instead of benevolence, many think there must be something else motivating the giver, so they walk on by. Some assume this gift must have a catch to it, some hidden strings attached, so they also pass up the offer. Many think they don’t need this gift because they can manage quite well without it. Others wring their hands thinking they don’t deserve such generosity and cannot bring themselves to take it.

Writers are taught to leave out redundant adjectives, so the term “free gift” should be edited. A gift, by definition, is free so needs no modification. However, modern thinking assumes otherwise regarding gifts. From “now I own you something” to “I wonder what is expected of me,” the response to a gift is generally something about payback rather than gratitude. Gifts are exchanged, rarely one-way. Gifts are tracked so the payback can be around the same value. Sometimes gifts are expected, rather than a surprise.

When it comes to the gift of salvation, God must have anticipated that “gift” would need an explanation. Romans 5:15-19 does just that

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Paul describes that we were given our sinful nature because of the sin of one man, Adam. That is one gift I didn’t ask for or even pick up and take home. I’d rather not have it, but instead, it is part of who I am. God says everyone is under condemnation because of sin, and it all came from that one trespass of Adam. He disobeyed God and now we are cursed with the same predilection. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

However, God offers a better gift, the gift of justification and righteousness. This gift is made available because Jesus Christ died for our sins. By His obedience, we are offered this gift that also includes forgiveness, eternal life, even everything we need for this life.

Unlike that rotten gift of a sin nature, this one is not automatically ours simple because God offers it. The key words are those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness. The gift sits there, for each person, with their name on it, but unless they take it, it remains as useless to them as an unwrapped birthday present or a parcel left in the mailbox or under the Christmas tree.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”