John.1:14, on the third of Advent,2019.
Die evangelische Kirche : in Tajima, Rev. R. Ishida
In today's text, we find a phrase, “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth: we have beheld his glory, glory of the only son from the Father.”
Jesus was born. About this John explains as follows: “ho logos sarks egeneto.” Namely the word became flesh.
What is “word”? What do we have recognized it as or understand with it? In the OT “word” is “dabar”, which is of Hebrew, you know. It often means the word of God, the law given to Moses on Mt.Sinai: five books of Moses. And God's creative power and sometimes his saying power and his grace , mercy and love. With these meanings “dabar” is used in the OT. Dabar became flesh. Dabar is Jesus himself. Then we see God's saying power in dabar; in Jesus slept in the manger, the word.
Therefore, the birth of Jesus is the graceful, merciful gift of God for us all. The gift of God dwelt among us. This implies he is an ordinary person like us, not a superhero or one of fierce gods or of charming goddesses in pagan world. He is a person next to us in our daily life and also in our deepest part of our heart.
About full of grace and truth: this phrase is used for a baby in a manger. His parents were poor. They had no room in any guest rooms. What do you pump up from him? Can you pump up fullness of grace and truth from him?
Grace and truth are originally of God. Do you see God's grace and truth a baby in the manger do you see His glory with being full of grace and truth? John sees it. But there is no cross. there is no resurrection here. But John sees it.
On words; grace and truth, they are in the OT as very important words. They are mainly used for unfailing grace, mercy, truth and righteousness.
Persons like shepherds, were able to find God's immense grace and truth in a poor family.
Joyfulness of Christmas is always in persons whom God is pleased with.
Now you are here. Surely you are one of people whom God pleased with.