Earthy Language

What has been called "The Gospel in Nine Words" is found in the 14th verse of the first chapter of John.  "And the Word became flesh and dwelled among us."  This is also John's version of the incarnation told by Matthew and Luke in a much longer narrative form.   In the setting of the Prologue of John's gospel, it is indeed a most powerful Word.  The One spoken of back in the beginning with the words, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"  is now being proclaimed as the One who has forsaken everything to become flesh among us.

 

The language is earthy.  The language is filled with all that is part of humanity.  The divine One who was with God and was God is caught now in the web of the entire human process becoming like us in every sense of the word. It is truly an amazing thought to consider.  Our minds reach for analogies to render it plausible and sensible, but there simply are none which prove to be adequate.  They all fall short and fail to measure up to those words in the 14th verse of John.

 

John uses language here that invokes the sweat and dirt, the strains and stresses, the laughter and the grief, the successes and failures.  Human is what the divine becomes as He "became flesh and dwelled among us."  And, of course, to take flesh upon Himself means dying.  His death was not an ordinary death with family members gathered on every side, but one filled with suffering and pain in a public place emptied of any sense of decency and compassion.  He came because of His love for us.  He came to call us home.  It was the only way it could be done and He willingly chose to walk that road.