And the Word Became Flesh

And the Word And the Word Became FleshBecame Flesh

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus, although God, became a man.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus, although God, became a man.o “And the Word became flesh and dwelt

among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus, although God, became a man.o “And the Word became flesh and dwelt

among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14, ESV).o“Dwelt” is literally “tabernacled.”

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus, although God, became a man.o “And the Word became flesh and dwelt

among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14, ESV).o“Dwelt” is literally “tabernacled.”oThe idea is that just as God “tabernacled” with

the Israelites in the Old Testament, Jesus Christ “tabernacled” with men.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus, although God, became a man.o “And the Word became flesh and dwelt

among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14, ESV).o“Dwelt” is literally “tabernacled.”oThe idea is that just as God “tabernacled” with

the Israelites in the Old Testament, Jesus Christ “tabernacled” with men.o God was in the tabernacle in a special way.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus, although God, became a man.o “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among

us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14, ESV).o“Dwelt” is literally “tabernacled.”oThe idea is that just as God “tabernacled” with the

Israelites in the Old Testament, Jesus Christ “tabernacled” with men.o God was in the tabernacle in a special way.o “The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of

the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Ex 40:34-35, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o The idea of an Incarnation suggests that Jesus existed long before his conception.

And the Word Became Flesh

o The idea of an Incarnation suggests that Jesus existed long before his conception.o “In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o The idea of an Incarnation suggests that Jesus existed long before his conception.o “In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1, ESV).

o “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For y him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Col 1:15-16, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o The early church wrestled with how Jesus could be both God & man at the same time.

And the Word Became Flesh

o The early church wrestled with how Jesus could be both God & man at the same time.o Some taught Docetism & declared that

Jesus’ body was only an illusion.

And the Word Became Flesh

o The early church wrestled with how Jesus could be both God & man at the same time.o Some taught Docetism & declared that

Jesus’ body was only an illusion.oOthers said that Jesus was a mere man

upon whom the Christ came at his baptism & that the Christ left before the crucifixion.

And the Word Became Flesh

o The early church wrestled with how Jesus could be both God & man at the same time.

o We know that Jesus was both God & man at the same time.

And the Word Became Flesh

o The early church wrestled with how Jesus could be both God & man at the same time.

o We know that Jesus was both God & man at the same time.o “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells

bodily” (Col 2:9, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o The early church wrestled with how Jesus could be both God & man at the same time.

o We know that Jesus was both God & man at the same time.o “In him the whole fullness of deity dwells

bodily” (Col 2:9, ESV).o Let’s think about why the Incarnation took

place.

And the Word Became Flesh

THE INCARNATION ALLOWS JESUS TO REDEEM MAN.

And the Word Became Flesh

o “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45, ESV).

o “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who hast he power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb 2:14, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9, ESV).

o “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

MAN STOOD IN DESPERATE NEED OF SALVATION.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o “There for there is no one who does not

sin” (1 Ki 8:46, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o “There for there is no one who does not

sin” (1 Ki 8:46, ESV).o “It is written, ‘None is righteous, no, not

one; no one understands; no one seeks for God’” (Rm 3:10-11, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate

sin.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate

sin: “You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you” (Ps 5:4, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate

sin.o Because of his great love, God wants

man saved, not dammed.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate

sin.o Because of his great love, God wants

man saved, not dammed: The Lord “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pt 3:9, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate

sin.o Because of his great love, God wants

man saved, not dammed.o God, in his justice, cannot just overlook

sin.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate

sin.o Because of his great love, God wants

man saved, not dammed.o God, in his justice, cannot just overlook

sin: “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty” (Nah 1:3, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate

sin.o Because of his great love, God wants

man saved, not dammed.o God, in his justice, cannot just overlook

sin.o God, in justice & love, placed our guilt

on Jesus.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Every person has sinned.o God, in his holiness, cannot tolerate sin.o Because of his great love, God wants man

saved, not dammed.o God, in his justice, cannot just overlook sin.o God, in justice & love, placed our guilt on

Jesus: “He himself bore our sins his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Pt 2:24, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus could not die unless he became a man.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus could not die unless he became a man.oGod is eternal & does not die.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus could not die unless he became a man.oGod is eternal & does not die.o “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!” (Rv 4:8, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus could not die unless he became a man.oGod is eternal & does not die.o “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

who was and is and is to come!” (Rv 4:8, ESV).

o Therefore, Jesus had to become a man to die & redeem man.

And the Word Became Flesh

THE INCARNATION TOOK PLACE SO THAT JESUS COULD BE A HIGH PRIEST.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves as our high priest.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves as our high priest.o “He has no need, like those high

priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself” (Heb 7:27, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus had to become a man in order to be our high priest.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus had to become a man in order to be our high priest.o “Since therefore the children share in flesh and

blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not the angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:14-17, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus had to become a man in order to be our high priest.o Heb 2:14-17.o “We do not have a high priest who is unable to

sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus had to become a man in order to be our high priest.o Heb 2:14-17.o Heb 4:15.o “There is one God, and there is one mediator

between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tm 2:5, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves in many ways as did the Aaronic high priests.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves in many ways as did the Aaronic high priests.o They offered sacrifice for the people’s sins.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves in many ways as did the Aaronic high priests.o They offered sacrifice for the people’s sins:

“He shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins” (Lev 16:15-16, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves in many ways as did the Aaronic high priests.

o But, Jesus differs from the Aaronic priests in significant ways.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves in many ways as did the Aaronic high priests.

o But, Jesus differs from the Aaronic priests in significant ways.oHe did not need to offer sacrifice for his

own sins first.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves in many ways as did the Aaronic high priests.

o But, Jesus differs from the Aaronic priests in significant ways.oHe did not need to offer sacrifice for his

own sins first.oHe offered himself, not a bull or goat.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus serves in many ways as did the Aaronic high priests.

o But, Jesus differs from the Aaronic priests in significant ways.oHe did not need to offer sacrifice for his

own sins first.oHe offered himself, not a bull or goat.oHe always lives & always intercedes before

God’s throne for us.

And the Word Became Flesh

THE INCARNATION TOOK PLACE SO JESUS COULD REVEAL GOD TO MAN.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus reveals God in a unique way.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus reveals God in a unique way.o “All things have been handed over to me

by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Mt 11:27, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus reveals God in a unique way.oMt 11:27.o “Jesus said to him [Philip], ‘Have I been

with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father?”’” (Jn 14:9, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus reveals God in a unique way.oMt 11:27.o Jn 14:9.o “Long ago, at many times and in many

ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Heb 1:1-2, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o God was revealed to the Israelites, but there is a huge difference in the way that Jesus has revealed God.

And the Word Became Flesh

o God was revealed to the Israelites, but there is a huge difference in the way that Jesus has revealed God.oGod revealed himself to the Israelites.

And the Word Became Flesh

o God was revealed to the Israelites, but there is a huge difference in the way that Jesus has revealed God.oGod revealed himself to the Israelites.

o“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty” (Ex 34:6-7, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o God was revealed to the Israelites, but there is a huge difference in the way that Jesus has revealed God.oGod revealed himself to the Israelites.

o“The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty” (Ex 34:6-7, ESV).

oWe learn much about God from the Old Testament.

And the Word Became Flesh

o God was revealed to the Israelites, but there is a huge difference in the way that Jesus has revealed God.oGod revealed himself to the Israelites.oBut, in Jesus, we see God in action.

And the Word Became Flesh

THE INCARNATION TOOK PLACE SO THAT JESUS COULD BE EXALTED.

And the Word Became Flesh

o “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence, with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (Jn 17:4-5, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence, with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (Jn 17:4-5, ESV).

o “Being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedience to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Phil 2:8-9, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Precisely because Jesus was willing to humble himself & become a man did God highly exalt him.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Precisely because Jesus was willing to humble himself & become a man did God highly exalt him.

o Because of his exaltation, worship is due Jesus.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Precisely because Jesus was willing to humble himself & become a man did God highly exalt him.

o Because of his exaltation, worship is due Jesus.o “Jesus met them [the women] and said,

‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him” (Mt 28:9, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Precisely because Jesus was willing to humble himself & become a man did God highly exalt him.

o Because of his exaltation, worship is due Jesus.o “Jesus met them [the women] and said,

‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him” (Mt 28:9, ESV).

o “When he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him’” (Heb 1:6, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

THE INCARNATION TOOK PLACE SO THAT JESUS CAN GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A HOLY LIFE.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus provides an example of what a holy life should look like.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus provides an example of what a holy life should look like.o “To this you have been called, because

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Pt 2:21, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus provides an example of what a holy life should look like.o “To this you have been called, because

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Pt 2:21, ESV).

o From Jesus, we learn how to live above sin.

And the Word Became Flesh

THE INCARNATION TOOK PLACE SO THAT JESUS COULD BE A FAIR JUDGE.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus is going to judge this world.

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus is going to judge this world.oGod “has fixed a day on which he will

judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o Jesus is going to judge this world.oGod “has fixed a day on which he will judge the

world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31, ESV).

o “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tm 4:1-2, ESV).

And the Word Became Flesh

o God, out of his righteousness & mercy, would judge all people appropriately.

And the Word Became Flesh

o God, out of his righteousness & mercy, would judge all people appropriately.oBut, Jesus has come into this world & he

will judge us.

And the Word Became Flesh

o God, out of his righteousness & mercy, would judge all people appropriately.oBut, Jesus has come into this world & he

will judge us.oNo one will be able to claim that Jesus

doesn’t know what it’s like to be human!

And the Word Became Flesh

ARE YOU READY TO STAND BEFORE JESUS IN JUDGMENT?