The Word Became Flesh

John 1:14-18

– So far in our Advent series we’ve focused on two metaphors that John uses to describe Jesus.  Jesus is the “Word” (vv. 1-3) and the “Light” (vv. 4-13).  -Today we will focus on three additional ‘types’ that were fulfilled when the “Word became flesh”.

I.  Jesus is the true ‘Tabernacle’ (vv. 14-15)

1)     The Word became flesh

a.       John writes against the ‘Docetists’ who denied the full humanity of Jesus Christ

• Jesus was tired (4:6), thirsty (4:7, 19:28), angry (11:33), sad (11:35),  able to die (19:30), able to bleed (19:34)
• Story of John and Cerinthes – “let us flee lest the bath fall in, as long as Cerinthus, that enemy of the truth is within.”

b.      The doctrine of Christ’s humanity is absolutely essential for our salvation:

• “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things” (Hebrews 2:14)
• “That which was not assumed is not healed.”  – Gregory of Nazianzus

2)     “…. and tabernacled among us.”

a.     Jesus dwelt in a ‘tent’ of flesh just as the Israelites dwelled in tents in the wilderness

b.    ‘Tabernacle’ is a foreshadowing of Jesus

• Visible glory of God was once associated with the Tabernacle (Ex 40:34-35)
• God’s glory is now displayed in the Son!
• The arrival of Jesus has made the Tabernacle and Temple obsolete (cf. John 4:21; Matt 12:6)
• God is now with us – Emmanuel!

 

II.  Jesus is the New Moses (vv. 16-17)

1)     Moses and God’s Law

a.     Greatest prophet of the Old Testament

b.    Delivered his people from slavery in Egypt

c.     Mediated the ‘Law’ at Mount Sinai

• Law was a gracious gift from God
• The Law cannot save us!  It only points a condemning finger at our sin

d.              God revealed Himself to Moses as “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex 34:6)

2)     Jesus and God’s Grace

a.       Jesus is a greater prophet than Moses (Deut 18:15-20; Hebrews 3:1-6)

b.      Jesus delivers his people from slavery to sin

c.       Jesus does for sinners what the law could never do!

• He fulfilled the demands of the Law
• He paid the penalty for Law-breakers
• Through Christ Jesus all believers have received “grace upon grace”

d.    God reveals Himself through Jesus as being “full of grace and truth”

III.  Jesus is the Last Adam  (v. 18)

1)     Adam and the Image of God

a.     Adam was created in God’s image to reflect God’s character and glory to the world

b.    Adam failed in this responsibility

2)     Jesus and the Image of God

a.     Jesus has “made [the Father] known” – Greek verb = exegeisthai = ‘exegesis’

b.    Jesus succeeds where Adam failed!