John 1:14-18 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Word of God Speak – MercyMe
• Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar
• Light of the World – Lauren Daigle

Resources for Family Worship (with Children)

• Gizmo’s Daily Bible Byte – 142 – John 1:14 – The Living Word – Lesson for Kids
• Gospel of John Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1) – Lesson for Youth
• Shine | Stellar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Shine His Light | Stellar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• To God Be the Glory | Yee-Haw VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

By saying, “The Word became flesh and lived among us” (v. 14), the author connects “the beginning before the beginning,” that is, eternity itself, with Jesus of Nazareth. The “Word–Wisdom,” who existed from eternity, descended from the eternal realm into one-dimensional time, and from the absolute dimension into three-dimensional space. The event of the incarnation is this momentous. The word translated “lived” comes from the Greek skēnoō, which means “to pitch a tent” or “to dwell in a tent.” His physical life was short, but the light that shone through Him continues to “give light to everyone” (v. 9). By using the verb skēnoō, the author also hints that Jesus has come as the new tabernacle.

The author uses the first-person plural pronoun “we,” suggesting that this testimony is not merely his personal witness but that of the community of faith. This pronoun also has the literary effect of inviting the reader into this confession. Behind the Greek word doxa, translated as “glory,” stands the Hebrew word kabod. Kabod means “weight” or “heaviness.” People sensed in Jesus a weight far exceeding that of an ordinary human being. The “glory of the one and only Son” can be translated as “the weight of the one and only Son.” The reason Jesus seemed so extraordinary was that His true identity was “the one and only Son of God,” that is, “the One whom God cherishes most dearly.”

“Grace and truth” (v. 14) correspond to the Hebrew words hesed and emet. In the Old Testament, hesed and emet are the most important terms for describing God’s character. Hesed is sometimes translated as agapē (love) in the New Testament, but it is also translated as charis (grace), because God’s love is a gift given without conditions. God is also truth itself; all truth comes from Him. Therefore, the phrase “full of grace and truth” supplements the statement “the Word became flesh.” The “Word–Wisdom” was perfectly embodied in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

John the Baptist testified that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God who came as the Savior (v. 15). Chronologically, John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus (Luke 1). But in terms of Jesus’ true identity, He existed from before eternity. That is why John says, “He was before me.”

In verse 16, the author turns his attention once again to Jesus. Believers receive grace and truth from Jesus as a “gift.” At this point, the author finally mentions the name “Jesus Christ.” The name “Jesus Christ” contains a confession of faith. “Jesus” is His name, and “Christ” refers to the Messiah whom the Jews had been waiting for. Therefore, to call Him “Jesus Christ” is to confess, “I believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ who came as the Savior.”

Since Moses, who delivered the Law, was the most significant figure in Jewish tradition, the author contrasts Moses with Jesus. He describes the Law as something that was “given,” while grace and truth are defined as something that “came into being.” Moses was the mediator of the Law, but Jesus embodied and revealed grace and truth. The statement, “No one has ever seen God” (v. 18), is also made with Moses in mind. Moses asked God to let him see Him, but his request was denied (Exodus 33:17–23), because no one can see God and live. Yet Jesus is “the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father.” This is another way of expressing “The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (v. 1). In terms of status and level of revelation, Moses cannot be compared with Jesus Christ.

Meditation:

As the author John begins the story of Jesus, he goes back to eternity. This means that what happened on the land of Palestine two thousand years ago was not merely a moment in history. A point in history touches eternity, and the short life of one person emerged from God’s eternal providence.

Like a skilled documentary director, the author first widens the camera angle to its maximum to show the perspective of eternity. Gradually narrows it as he moves toward Jesus of Nazareth. At first, he describes Him as “the Word,” then as “the life,” then as “the light,” and finally introduces Him as “the one and only Son of God, who took on flesh and came to dwell among us.” A reader encountering this Gospel for the first time would wonder, “Who is he talking about?” At just that moment, the author introduces the name “Jesus Christ.” He is the One who “was with God and was God” (v. 1), and “the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in the Father’s bosom” (v. 18).

Here we once again come face to face with the limits of language. No language can satisfactorily describe what happened to Jesus Christ. Any human logic cannot explain it, because our minds can only understand things that occur within the realm of experience. John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tried his best to express this complicated reality, but he could not resolve the mystery and secret surrounding Jesus. In some ways, he even made it more difficult.

That is the essence of the matter. Jesus can only be expressed through paradox, and so is what happened through Him. The reason John and the early church had no choice but to speak this way is that Jesus of Nazareth was clearly a human being no different from them, yet they sensed in Him the weight of God. He lived for about thirty years, like a tent that is pitched for a time and then taken down, but His light continues to shine, and those who believe receive the gift of grace and truth. For this reason, they could only explain Him with expressions that seem to grasp the truth yet do not fully grasp it. And so, after exhausting all our efforts, we fall silent like Job and bow down before Him.

Prayer:

We humbly bow our heads before the mystery of the Lord. As we hold the Lord’s mystery in our hearts, everything becomes a mystery. Eternity is within time, and the kingdom of God is beneath our feet. Thank You, Lord! We offer honor and glory to You, Lord!

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus is not just a good person from history. He is God who came close to us—so we can receive His light, grace, and truth.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • Jesus came to live with people. How does it make you feel to know that God wanted to be close to us?
  • Light helps us see and feel safe. When do you feel God’s light helping you—at home, school, or church?
  • Grace means a gift we don’t have to earn. What is one gift from God that makes you thankful today?

• Youth:
  • Jesus is fully God and fully human. Why do you think it matters that Jesus understands what human life feels like?
  • The devotion says Jesus is a mystery we cannot fully explain. Is it hard or comforting to believe in a God we can’t fully understand? Why?
  • Jesus’ life was short, but His light still shines. What kind of “light” do you hope your life can reflect to others?