“And without controversy — great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh — justified in the Spirit — seen of angels — preached unto the Gentiles — believed on in the world — received up into glory” “And the Word was made 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” 1Ti.3:16; Jn.1:14
It is without a doubt, or any argument whatsoever, that absolutely the most mysterious divine truth of God’s wonderful grace is — first of all — how that the eternal almighty, all holy, all powerful, all just and all righteous Son of God — is manifested in fallen human flesh. He, the creator God, not only entered and became a part of our human history, but He has also forever changed it! There is no disputing this fact — as the eternal Son of God and the eternal Savior Son of man, He historically lived, He died, He was buried, He was raised again and He was received up into Godly glory and grandeur as the only triumphant and totally sovereign Savior/substitute — that there ever was, is, or forever will be. He became this for all His eternally loved and chosen ones! Praise His all glorious Name! This is the very substance of the gospel of the glory, only, of our Lord Jesus Christ!
This is what the Word of God descriptively declares throughout its holy scriptures. This is why it is that John refers to Jesus as being the living “Word” of God.
Jn.1:1-2 declares this: “In the beginning was the Word — and the Word was with God and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God!” Hence, it is most definitely true that by, the “Word”, John is here referencing Christ Jesus as being the incarnated eternal Son of God — of whom he, also (under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit) goes on to write from vs.3 that “All things — were made by Him — and without Him was not anything made that was made!” And then, we see from vs.14, as is stated above, that: “the Word was made flesh”. Oh, think about that! The “Maker” of all things in all of creation was, Himself, made flesh! It in fact declares that: “He was made flesh — and dwelt among us…”. The Spirit chosen word here for “dwelt” is the verbal form of the word, “tabernacle”. In other words, the gospel is here declaring that the living and eternal Word of God became human flesh and blood and “tabernacled” among us. Wow!
Therefore, this same gospel of the wonderful grace of Jesus is that which is being descriptively declared by type — by symbol — by representation — throughout the Holy Bible wherever the “Tabernacle” is mentioned, or referenced. How grand is that, my friends!? The very place in which the sovereign saving sacrifice was symbolically performed by the chosen people of God — is, in Christ, made to be real and actual! Jesus, the eternal and living “Word” of God, became the very same eternal and living and saving sacrificial “Lamb” of God — for all of His eternally loved and chosen ones. He is the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
