The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
“the Word was made flesh” = the Word really became truly and fully human. John could have said that the Word became a man or that the Word took on a body, but he uses the rather crude form of “the Word was made ‘sarx,’” the physical, fleshly nature of man. Since He really became human, in its basest form, He is completely able to deliver us from the penalty of our sins and from their power over our lives (Heb 2:14-18).
Hebrews 2:14-18 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. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
“dwelt among us” = dwelt (skenoo = tabernacled, to live in a tent or tabernacle). Tent dwelling is only temporary. The allusion is, of course, to the tabernacle in the wilderness which was a type of Christ. The shekinah glory of God came to dwell in the tabernacle as it does in the Word made flesh (Ex 40:34-35). Peterson translates this as, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” (The Message)
Exodus 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Light looked down and beheld Darkness.
“Thither will I go,” said Light.
Peace looked down and beheld War.
“Thither will I go,” said Peace.
Love looked down and beheld Hatred.
“Thither will I go,” said Love.
So came Light and shone.
So came Peace and gave rest.
So came Love and brought life.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
(Laurence Housman)
“beheld” (KJV) “have seen” (NIV) (theaomai) is used only of seeing with the physical eye. The incarnation was no metaphysical event; the Word actually became a human being and God’s “glory” (doxa) was manifested in His person in such a way that it could be seen and witnessed to. This was the fulfillment of the prophecies in Isaiah of the manifestation of the glory of the LORD when the Messiah would come (Isa 40:3-5, 60:1-2, Zech 2:10).
Isaiah 40:3-5 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 60:1-2 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Zechariah 2:10 “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD.
It was His disciples who saw His glory. It is those who draw near to Him that see how wonderful He truly is. (1Joh 1:1, 2Pe 1:16-18)
1 John 1:1 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.
2 Peter 1:16-18 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
“only begotten” (KJV) = “One and Only” (NIV) = (monogenes) single of its kind, unique, only child. This term is used of the widow of Nain’s only son and Jairus’s only daughter, but it is also used of Abraham’s son Isaac, who was not his only son (why?). (He was the only son Abraham had as a result of the promise of God; he was unique, and so is Jesus.)
“full of grace and truth” The Word not only has grace and truth, but is full of their very essence. In the gospel of John, the word “grace” only occurs in verses 14, 16, and 18 of chapter 1. Grace and truth are the two things fallen man needs most and the Word is full of both of them.
grace means unmerited favor and carries with it two thoughts. One, as mentioned, is of being something that is undeserved. The Word came to earth to save mankind, not because we deserve it, or have done anything that would help this to happen, but totally because of God’s love. The other concept that grace carries is one of beauty. In Christ we see a beauty unlike any other — the wonderful loveliness of God.
truth is the second word found here. Jesus is the embodiment of truth (Joh 14:6). Barclay notes that we humans have a difficult time grasping abstract ideas. It is easier for us to learn by seeing pictures, and that is what Jesus did. He didn’t come to tell us the truth; He came to show us the truth.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
The Word is perfectly fit to be our interceder because he is full of grace and He is perfectly fit to be our instructor because He is full of truth.