The Revelation of God in Christ

Reflection on John 1:14-18

Scripture:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, ‘This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.”’) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” (John 1:14-18, NIV)

The Word Became Flesh

This passage is one of the most profound statements in Scripture: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The eternal, preexistent Word—who was with God and was God (John 1:1)—entered time and space, becoming fully human while remaining fully divine. This is the heart of the Christian faith: God did not remain distant but took on human form to dwell among us. The phrase “made his dwelling” (literally, “pitched His tent”) echoes the tabernacle in the Old Testament, where God’s presence dwelled among His people. Now, in Jesus, God’s presence is personal, intimate, and accessible.

We Have Seen His Glory

John declares, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son.” Unlike the veiled glory of God that Moses encountered on Mount Sinai, Jesus reveals God’s glory openly and perfectly. This glory is not marked by overwhelming light or terrifying power but by being “full of grace and truth.” These two qualities—grace and truth—define the essence of Christ’s ministry. He reveals God’s truth, yet does so with grace, offering mercy and love to those who are broken and sinful. By becoming flesh, Jesus not only showed us God’s glory but opened the way for us to share in it.

Grace Upon Grace

John emphasizes that “out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” The idea here is that in Christ, there is an unending supply of grace. The grace given through the law of Moses was real but incomplete. Now, in Christ, that grace is perfected and expanded. Every spiritual blessing we receive—from forgiveness to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—flows from the fullness of Jesus. While the law revealed God’s standards, Jesus brought both the truth of those standards and the grace to meet them.

Making the Father Known

John concludes with the remarkable statement: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” This verse highlights Jesus’ unique role as the one who perfectly reveals the invisible God. In the Old Testament, people could only catch glimpses of God’s glory. But in Jesus, we see God’s character, heart, and purposes fully revealed. He is the bridge between the unseen God and humanity, making the unknowable God known in a personal way.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Thank You for revealing the Father’s glory, full of grace and truth. Help us to live in the light of Your grace, continually drawing near to You. May we, like John, testify to the fullness we have received in You, sharing Your love and truth with those around us. In Your name, Amen.