The Word Became Flesh
I mostly take my body for granted even though most of my daily rhythms involve taking care of my body. Waking and sleeping, dressing and undressing, eating and drinking, working out and avoiding a workout – these things I do (or don’t do) mostly without much thought.
As I’m prepping for the Christmas season, I’ve focused more on the significance of our bodies. The wonders of our flesh and blood complexity and the frustrations of our physical Iimitations. We are more than our bodies, certainly, but not less. Our bodies matter.
Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” I recently noticed that God made Adam’s body first and then God breathed life into it. The body was not an afterthought created to hold the disembodied person that was Adam. Adam’s body mattered.
And now – the Incarnation. God made flesh and blood. (John 1:14) Jesus became a man. His body is not merely a container designed to hold God for a while. Jesus is fully divine AND fully human. Always. We celebrate Jesus made flesh at Christmas. Made flesh – of all things – as a baby. Jesus’ body matters.
Merry Christmas,
Kent
P.S. 2023 Advent Season
December 3 – Word Made Flesh – resurrection and return.
December 10 – Word Made Flesh – life and death sorrow.
December 17 – Word Made Flesh – water into wine feasting.
December 24 – Word Made Flesh – the flesh is weak…temptation.
Christmas Eve – Candlelight Services @ 3 and 5 – Word Made Flesh – Baby.
December 31 – Word Made Flesh – massacre of innocents and sympathy.
Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
