The Incarnation- The Perfect Translation of Love
by Kim Gentes
John 1:14 (MSG)
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
The bible uses a lot of similes and metaphors to help describe God, but it reserves only a few words to define God. “The Word was God”, “God is light”, “God is love” are unique and powerful definitions that stand above the explanations about God to point at the heart of who God actually is. It is in this kind of context that the book of John begins with chapter one explaining and exploring the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus. God is the Word and the light who “became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood”. In writing his gospel account, John used written language to translate what he saw and experienced in real life (“We saw the glory with our own eyes...”) into words that others could read, use and believe.
John, and translators since, were as careful as possible to rely on the Holy Spirit to give the correct words to communicate to the reader the intent of what they were writing.
But the miracle and revelation of the incarnation is that God chose to translate Himself into a human being rather than just rely on words, ideas and concepts to communicate. In doing this, he “became flesh and blood” and “moved into the neighborhood”. In other words, the person of Jesus is the perfect translation of God. Jesus is what true love looks like. Jesus is what pure light looks like. Jesus is not just what God is like, He is God.
Rather than translating what love should look like for us, God chose to become the embodiment of love and put on earthly form in the person of Jesus Christ. We don’t have to worry about the “translation” of God's love in terms of accuracy- Jesus is the perfect reflection of God’s image. Instead of just having the words of description, in Jesus we have the opportunity to be in a relationship with the person of love.
John, and translators since, were as careful as possible to rely on the Holy Spirit to give the correct words to communicate to the reader the intent of what they were writing.
But the miracle and revelation of the incarnation is that God chose to translate Himself into a human being rather than just rely on words, ideas and concepts to communicate. In doing this, he “became flesh and blood” and “moved into the neighborhood”. In other words, the person of Jesus is the perfect translation of God. Jesus is what true love looks like. Jesus is what pure light looks like. Jesus is not just what God is like, He is God.
Rather than translating what love should look like for us, God chose to become the embodiment of love and put on earthly form in the person of Jesus Christ. We don’t have to worry about the “translation” of God's love in terms of accuracy- Jesus is the perfect reflection of God’s image. Instead of just having the words of description, in Jesus we have the opportunity to be in a relationship with the person of love.
Questions:
- Do you remember the first time you experienced God was real?
- How does your experience of God continue today in your life?
Action:
Do this short series of steps as you surrender to God:
- Open your heart in a short time of listening.
- Ask God to reveal himself to you.
- Patiently wait. Listen for God.
- He is near you. He loves you.
- Drink in His presence.
- Give thanks to Him for His presence.