From the beginning

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. – 1 John 1.1-3

We know John already from his gospel accounts. Where the other three gospel writers focused on the life and ministry of Christ John focuses on the ‘who’ of Jesus. Who was He and what He all about? 

In this, the first of three letter John wrote, he continues in that vein. The thing John deals with is the same thing that he started. his gospel with – Jesus was eternal. There never was a time when Jesus was not. His eternality makes Him above and beyond the limits of human experience. It sets Him apart. He is not bound because He is the eternal God. 

The second thing Jesus assures us of is that Jesus really and truly came in the flesh. I think its important that the word of God has both aspects to Jesus just in a couple of verses. He was the eternal God – but He was also a man of flesh and blood. I don’t think that any of us will ever be able to figure that out, but there it is. 

Only God could act in His righteous justice – only man’s blood could pay the price. 

So the only solution was for God to become man while remaining God. So Jesus took on human flesh and the role of servant.

I will be the first to admit that I don’t really get it. How could ‘fullness of God’ be in ‘helpless babe?’ How could ‘veiled in the flesh the Godhead be?’ How could there be ‘incarnate deity?’

Only because God is God. Only because God created man. 

I may not really understand it all – but my thoughts are not His thoughts and my ways are not His ways. But I can rejoice that God took on flesh to deliver me from my sin. 

Thank God for incarnate deity!