John 1:14-18: a reflection

14The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

John reaches the heart of the gospel in a few words: The Word became flesh and lived among us. The eternal Word of God, through whom all things were made, took on flesh and dwelt among us, so that we saw his glory, full of grace and truth. And the wonder is spelled out: No one has seen God at any time; the only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him. The invisible God, whom no one had seen, has made himself known by coming among us in Christ; the Word made flesh brings God near and makes the Father known.

Notice the wonder John declares: the Word became flesh, and so the unseen God is made known. God had been unseen, beyond our reach; no one had seen him. But the eternal Word took on flesh and dwelt among us, so that in Christ we behold God's glory, full of grace and truth. The Son, who is at the Father's side, has made the Father known; the God who was hidden has come near, made flesh, so that we might see and know him. The incarnation brings the unseen God near, making him known in a way we could see and touch. In Christ, God has drawn near and made himself known.

That is worth resting in, for it means the unseen God has come near to us in Christ and made himself known. We might long to know God, yet feel he is distant, unseen, beyond our reach; but the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and in Christ the unseen God is made known, near enough to see, full of grace and truth. We come to know God not by climbing up to him, but by receiving the One who came down to us, the Word made flesh. Do not think God distant and unknowable; the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and in Christ the unseen God has come near and made himself known. Come to know God through Christ, the Word made flesh, in whom the unseen God has drawn near and made himself known, full of grace and truth, as John declares the only Son has made the Father known; for God is no longer distant and hidden, but has come among us in Christ, near enough to know and full of grace and truth.

Lord, John reaches the heart of the gospel in a few words: the Word became flesh and lived among us. The eternal Word of God, through whom all things were made, took on flesh and dwelt among us, so that we saw his glory, full of grace and truth. And the wonder is spelled out: no one has seen God at any time; the only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him. The invisible God, whom no one had seen, has made himself known by coming among us in Christ. Show me the wonder John declares: the Word became flesh, and so the unseen God is made known. You had been unseen, beyond our reach; no one had seen you. But the eternal Word took on flesh and dwelt among us, so that in Christ we behold your glory, full of grace and truth. The Son, who is at your side, has made you known; the God who was hidden has come near, made flesh, so that we might see and know you. Let me rest in that, for it means you, the unseen God, have come near to me in Christ and made yourself known. I might long to know you, yet feel you are distant, unseen, beyond my reach; but the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and in Christ you are made known, near enough to see, full of grace and truth. I come to know you not by climbing up to you, but by receiving the One who came down to me. Keep me from thinking you distant and unknowable; the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Lord. Help me come to know you through Christ, the Word made flesh, in whom you have drawn near and made yourself known, full of grace and truth.