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JOHN 1:14

"AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH"

Intro: To the Christian this is what the celebration of Christmas is all about. We rejoice for
       that day when the eternal One stepped into time to reveal God to a lost race.

I. "AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH."
        Who?
        A. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was. . ."
                1. God was made flesh.
                        a. "He was in the world."
                        b. "The world was made by Him."
                2. This is the fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah, "Behold a virgin shall
                   conceive and bring forth a Son and shall call His name 'Immanuel'  . . . "
        Why?
        B. God is building a bridge to man.
                1. Man had sought in vain to build His towers to God.
                        a. Man's efforts are called religion.
                        b. They have all ended in Babel--confusion
                        c. Are you confused by the world's religious systems today?  Join the
                           crowd.
                        d. Tragically, some men have sought to make a religion out of
                           Christianity. They have created much confusion by their confusion.
                        e. It is impossible to start with an earth base and reach God.
                2. It is simple and logical to start with a divine base and reach man.
                3. God is seeking to restore man into His image.
                        a. Originally God had created man in His image.
                        b. Through sin image totally obscured and man became lost.
                                1. He groped in his darkness searching for truth and good
                                        a. The greatest intellects of man joined in this quest.
                                        b. With the arrival of Kant and Kierkagaard, we
                                           discovered why man's quest failed, universal truth
                                           and good don't exist; they are relative.
                        c. Yet, when I look at the beautiful shining faces of the children as
                           they sign, "Jesus loves me this I know."
                                1. I instinctantly know--that is good and that is truth.
                                2. Jesus thanked the Father that He had hid the truth from the
                                   wisdom of the world in order to reveal it to the babes.
                                3. He then told us that we must become as little children to
                                   discover.

II. "AND HE DWELT AMONG US."
        A. The fact that He was born in a manger because there no room in the inn seemed as an
           omen of His life.
                1. Many today still refuse to make room in their lives for Him.
                        a. They may bow their head while prayer is offered for the Christmas
                           dinner, but that is all the homage He will receive till next
                           Christmas.
        B. God dwelled among men, think of it.
                1. He ate, slept, walked with them.
                2. "That which was from the beginning."

III. "AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY. . . FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH."
        A. Put verse 1 and 14 together.
                1. In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was made flesh.
                2. And the Word was with God, and dwelt among us.
                3. And the Word was God, and we beheld His glory full of grace and truth.
        B. Have you beheld His glory?
                1. Have you experienced His grace and truth?
                2. Have you made room for Him?