07/21/26

John 1:14 The apostle John has just told his readers that all who believed that Jesus was the Son of God are reborn—not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan, but from the will of God. Now, he goes on to say more about Jesus as the Word: “And the Word became 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.” I like the way Robert Young put the first line: ^“And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us.”  [Young’s Literal Translation]. This provides evidence for Jesus’ birth during the Feast of Tabernacles is primarily theological, focusing on the scriptural connection between the feast and the incarnation of Jesus as “tabernacling” among us. Another piece of evidence is that a winter birth in December would make it unlikely for shepherds to be in the fields with their flocks, whereas the timing of the Feast of Tabernacles in October makes it plausible. In addition, this verse is considered the theological climax of the Gospel of John’s prologue, identifying the eternal, divine “Word” (Logos) as the historical person, Jesus the Christ. 

There are five major points we need to examine more closely. First, “The Word Became Flesh” (The Incarnation). The Greek word for “became” signifies that the eternal Word entered a new mode of existence. He did not cease being God but added a full human nature—body, soul, and spirit—to His divine nature. Then, by using the word “flesh,” John emphasizes the reality and frailty of Jesus’ physical body. This directly countered early heresies like Docetism, which taught that Jesus only appeared to be human. Nevertheless, while Jesus assumed human weakness, He did not take on a sinful nature. Second: “And Dwelt Among Us.” The Greek word for “dwelt” literally means “to pitch a tent” or “to tabernacle.” This is a direct allusion to the Tabernacle in the wilderness, where God’s presence resided among Israel. Jesus is now the “true Tabernacle,” the physical meeting place between God and humanity. Furthermore, just as a tent is a temporary dwelling, Jesus’ earthly life was a temporary stay designed for close, familiar interaction with His creation.

Third: “We Beheld His Glory.” John uses a Greek word for “beheld,” which implies gazing intently or studying with the physical eye. For instance, this glory was revealed through Jesus’ miracles, His perfect character, and notably at the Transfiguration. Fourth: “Full of Grace and Truth.” This refers to God’s unmerited favor and boundless generosity toward sinners. It also signifies God’s faithfulness to His own nature and His consistency in dealing with mankind. Even though the Law was given through Moses to point to grace, Jesus is the “performer” and embodiment of grace and truth. In Jesus, grace is not sentimental, nor is truth rigid; they are perfectly unified. Then John adds this:

“John (the Baptizer) bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, “He who comes after me preferred before me, for He was before me.”’” (v.15). John the Baptizer was actually saying: “‘The one who is coming after me is greater than I am, because He was living before I was even born.”This is a pivotal verse that records John the Baptizer’s testimony concerning the divine nature and superiority of Jesus the Christ. John uses the Greek verb for “cried out” that denotes a loud, passionate, and public proclamation. Not only that, but the verb “testifies” is in the present tense in Greek, implying that John’s witness is “abiding”—it remains a permanent record for all generations for “Him who comes after me.” In the ancient world, the one who came “after” was typically the disciple or the subordinate. John the Baptizer acknowledges this physical and ministerial sequence. By so doing, John explicitly states that Jesus has surpassed him in importance and authority. John ends with a “bombshell/” It uses a Greek word for “before,” which can mean “first” in terms of time or importance. Since John the Baptizer was physically older, his statement that Jesus was “before” him can only be true if Jesus existed eternally before his earthly birth. This aligns with the opening of the Prologue in John 1:1. Many scholars describe this as a riddle or paradox: Jesus is John the Baptizer’s successor in history but his predecessor in eternity.

What spiritual implications for believers are found in these verses? They teach us that Jesus is God incarnate who “tabernacled” among humanity, revealing divine glory through grace and truth. These verses also highlight God’s intimate proximity, the supreme authority of the Christ, and the tangible experience of His grace. Because Jesus lived as a human, He understands human pain and humiliation and offers Himself as a personal Savior who is “touchable” and brings us into a relationship with the Father. From His fullness, humanity receives grace to replace sin and shame, leading to a new identity as children of the Most High God.