2. READ: JOHN 1:1-2 AND JOHN 1:14-18
b. What did the Word become?
Answer: The Word, Jesus, became flesh (human, man), (verse 14).
The word "became" indicates a transition--the Word existed before He became man. The word "flesh" speaks of the holy humanity of the Lord Jesus. It is the TOTAL of all that is essential to manhood--spirit, soul, and body. Consider the following:
Galatians 4:4: "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law..."
Philippians 2:5-8: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!"
1 Timothy 3:16: "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."
Hebrews 2:14-15: "Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
1 John 1:1-2: "That Which was from the beginning, Which we have heard, Which we have seen with our eyes, Which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The Life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the Eternal Life, Which was with the Father and has appeared to us."
1 John 4:2: "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God..."