1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

John 1:1-18 - World English Bible

There is so much to explore in John's prologue. In reflection of the season, let's focus on 1:14-18. We can begin with a simple question: why did the Son of God come as a human being? Why was the “Word made flesh?” John's answer was one of revelation. The Word came to show the world God’s “grace and truth.” Grace was God’s steadfast love. The Hebrew word for this concept was “hesed,” the same love he showed to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai when he gave them his covenant. This self giving love was a gift that defined Israel as the Chosen People. This love was the activity that made the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the living God. Grace or hesed revealed the kind of God the Jews worshiped.

Truth was God’s faithfulness. His love was not conditional or capacious. It was dependable. Believers could rely on God to be there for them. One of God’s titles was the “Rock.” He would not abandon his people.

Taken together, “grace and truth” spoke to the very heart of the “God” concept. God loved his with a dynamic, faithful concern. Anything outside of “grace and truth” would be dead. Anything within “grace and truth” would be fullness beyond measure, grace upon grace, life in the Spirit. The One who could give people God’s grace and truth would be the person closest to God, “in the bosom of the Father.” This person was Jesus, the Christ.

How was your Christmas? How attuned were you to "Word made flesh?"