The Word Became Flesh

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us]” (Isaiah 7:14).

One of the most baffling concepts in scripture is the mystery of the Trinity. The word Trinity is never actually used in the Word, but there’s evidence all throughout the Bible that points to God as a tribunal God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

As we discussed in our previous devotion, God is a personal being rather than a distant, uninvolved creator who is separate from humanity. On the contrary, He is very present and involved in our lives.
           
The Christmas story reminds us that Jesus, the Son, is the human form of God. We’re told that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14). The prophesy that foretold Jesus’ birth tells us that His name would be Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”
           
So, we see that God became human and dwelt among us on the earth. Why is this so important for us to understand?
           
When we think of the Christmas story, we think about baby Jesus and how God sent His own Son to earth, but we might often forget that Jesus is God in human form. The Godhead is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—three in one. If we forget that Jesus is one with the Father and the Spirit, it can be easy to forget how personal God is.
           
Perhaps when you first heard the story of Jesus dying on the cross, you thought, “How terrible. What kind of a father would make their own son suffer such a death. If God cared so much, why wouldn’t He leave His throne and die Himself?”
           
When we understand that God is the Son and the Son is God, we understand the magnitude of His sacrifice that much more.
               
As we know, God is all about connection, and as we dive deeper into understanding the Trinity, we’ll see that all three divisions of the Godhead are intent on connecting with us. From creation to the cross to now, His heart beats for ours.
           
As you go throughout this season, remember that God not only sent His Son to die, but that He Himself became human to die for you.