The Word Made Flesh

John, the Evangelist, in describing the Messianic principle which he calls the Word, says:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

(John 1: 1-3.)

When the Almighty began to develop his faculties in order tc bring forth a universal kingdom full of happy beings, obedient to his will, the Word was the very first product. By the Word he created the world, and yet it contained the Messianic germ, by which a new and still more glorious creation finally should spring forth. In the course of time, that Word which was with and originated from God, became flesh—a fulfillment of the expression, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." (John 1: 14.)

He is the beginning of the new creation and the Builder of the kingdom of God. He is the personified Word, through whom the power of the Almighty develops. As he unfolds the principle of grace and truth contained in the Messianic germ, the kingdom of the heavens gradually comes into existence, as did the typical kingdom. The kingdom of the heavens also has its people, its temple, its Zion, its priesthood and its center-city. All develops in and through Christ, and everything corresponas with him as the Word made flesh. The Word made flesh represents the grace and truth of God, also all the objects that develop in and through him. Although they resemble the objects brought forth by the typical system, they still unfold themselves independent of the materials used in the Mosaic kingdom.

1. Christ as the King.

Christ is the king of the spiritual kingdom. He was born a king or heir apparent to the throne of David. Yet he had no visible kingdom. How then was he a king? Pilate, who sentenced him to be crucified, was stricken with the same thought, 'hence he asked him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" When Pilate put the question to him the second time, the Lord answered, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth."

That explains in what way Christ is the King in the kingdom of the heavens. The Truth—the naked truth, without appended laws or written rules to be followed—shall be crowned King in the everlasting kingdom. In the degree that Christ, as the Word made flesh, established that principle, he developed as the King of the Truth; as such, he was crowned King over the everlasting kingdom at his resurrection. "Thou art my Son, this day (the day of his resurrection) have I begotten thee!" says the great Father, by whose Spirit the spiritual King was delivered from the power of Death. As the personified Truth, he is now the invisible King of the spiritual kingdom. When the real kingdom of God is set up, he will receive the throne of David.