JOHN 1:14-16 BODY IMAGE

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night were the presence of the Lord for the Hebrews in the wilderness. The fact that he dwelt among them was symbolized by the Tabernacle in their midst. Moses made it clear to the people that it was God who delivered them from bondage in Egypt, was making them into a nation and was leading them to the land he had chosen for them.

In this the land of our bondage to sin, God the Word comes and dwells among us in order to lead us in the Great Exodus. The God who is Wholly Other becomes wholly human in order to deliver us from our sin and death. The steadfast love of God is expressed by the creative Word becoming a created man so that we might know him and know what we were created to be. That steadfast love is shear grace and that revelation is absolute truth.

How amazing it is that the One who made us in his image and saw us mangle that image through our selfish ambition and pride, would take that limiting image upon himself in order to restore us to a faithful facsimile of the original intent of the Maker. Think on that fact today, especially when you are tempted to despise your body for how you think it looks or how it makes you feel. Say to yourself, “God himself took on a body like mine!”

Lord of all creation, thank you for blessing me by taking on human flesh and living among us as one of us. As you walked in our steps, strengthen me to walk as you walked. As you revealed the truth about God and man to us, may my life reveal the truth about you to my neighbors. Amen.