THE WORD BECAME FLESH!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . 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 1:1,14, KJV).

Devotion 8 of 10 They Saw His Glory In Recollection, #1

His glory was seen in retrospect. As the Apostles reflected upon their time with Christ, He was revealed to them in the fullest sense. Think of John's wonderful recollection of the enfleshed Word. "That which was from the beginning, which we have HEARD, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life; the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us" (1 John 1:1-2). This was an enlightened view! What did they see "with their eyes?" It was "That which was from the beginning"--the Word made flesh! Mark it well, GOD WAS BROUGHT WITHIN THE RANGE OF THEIR SENSES! The God Whose judgments are "unsearchable" and ways "past finding out" (Rom 11:33), became apparent to them! They "looked upon Him" Who by nature is "invisible." This was not a mere apparition. It was not a mirage, or an imagination. Their hands "handled" Him! They saw Him as "that eternal life which was with the Father." Reflecting upon their time with Him, they saw a pattern of the Divine Nature in a body, in this world! They walked with Him, talked with Him, were taught by Him, and became acquainted with Him. They "beheld His glory!" They witnessed Divine initiative and response, Holy action and impulse! But they beheld His glory in a unique way: as "the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Not a mere teacher! Not a mere worker of miracles! Not as One who could stop the mouths of His critics, command a fig tree to dry up by the roots, and even calm a raging storm. That is not how they beheld Him! They did not perceive Him as having power over all disease, the world of demons, and death itself--even though undeniable evidence of this power was presented to them during His ministry. They did not see His glory as one Who could multiply bread and fish, straighten a woman bowed over for eighteen years, or restore a withered hand. Think about what I am saying! When beholding His glory, their minds were not drawn to His power to stop a twelve year old issue of blood, raise the feverish mother-in-law of Peter, or walking on a raging sea. They did not recall how He healed the deaf, the dumb, the blind, and the lamb. When they beheld His glory, they perceived Him as "the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." In Christ, they caught a glimpse of God the Father Himself! GOD WAS BROUGHT WITHIN THE RANGE OF THEIR SENSES! Here was the "fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col 2:9). This was not coincidence, "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell" (Col 1:19). Here, in the Son of God, was the most precise expression of God. Moses articulated the Law of God. The holy Prophets declared the purpose of God. John the Baptist declaring the coming of the Lamb of God. The Apostles articulated God's great salvation. But the Son of God articulated God Himself. HE IS THE APPOINTED EXPOSITOR OF GOD! In a most remarkable affirmation, Jesus declared, "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him" (Luke 10:22). If ever men are to be brought to God, it will be through God's "only Begotten" (John 14:6). In fact, He has been appointed to "bring us to God" (1 Pet 3:18). If He is not perceived, men will not come! "The only Begotten of the Father" not only is the Expositor of God, He has a desire to expound the Father to those who will come to Him. While He tabernacled among us, He revealed this aspect of His nature and ministry. The Holy Spirit moved Matthew to record this for our encouragement. Again, He affirmed, "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him" (Matt 11:27). Were this all we knew about the matter, it could prove discouraging! It certainly does expose the poverty of the world's wisdom and mere human efforts to know God. Is it possible to know the one to whom Jesus wants to reveal the Father? Jesus did not leave the matter here. Remember, He is the "fulness of the Godhead bodily," and thus will reveal to us the heart of God. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt 11:28-30). Hear His plea! "COME TO ME!" And why so? Why should we come to Him? Because He has a desire to show the Father to us--to reveal Him to us! He knows that alone will satisfy the laborer, and relieve the heaven burdens of life. In the knowledge of God, you will find "rest for your souls." Knowing Him gives you the advantage!

-- TOMORROW: FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH --