The Word Becomes Flesh

The best way of communicating with people is always in person, face to face.

When we write letters or texts or emails, there is often room for confusion or ambiguity. It is not always clear what we mean to emphasise or draw attention to. Intonation is lost or, worse, misconstrued.

Even speaking on the phone has its problems: without the aid of non-verbal clues, subtle meanings can be missed.

Yes, the best way to communicate with someone is in person, face to face.

God sent His Son at Christmas so that He could communicate with us in person, face to face. In the past, God had spoken through prophets and through signs (He spoke to Moses through a burning bush and followed the Israelites when they left Egypt as a pillar of cloud in the day and fire at night). But He hadn't spoken face to face with anyone since Adam and Eve. walked with Him in the Garden of Eden and spoke to Him face to face.

But after our disobedience, we could no longer enjoy this uninterrupted, unspoilt communion with our heavenly Father.

Until the birth of Jesus.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning [...] 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.

[John 1:1-2, 14 NIV]

John describes Jesus as the Word - He is the embodiment of everything that God wanted to say to us.  He provides the way for us to have a conversation with God in person, face to face.

I love these words in the carol 'O Come All Ye Faithful'

"Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing."

We can often question how we can hear God's voice or what He might say in different circumstances.  But rather than feeling hopeless at the idea that we don't know what He is saying, we can turn to Jesus, who embodies God's message of love and grace and forgiveness.

Face To Face

I love chatting to people, but there is nothing quite like talking face to face.  I often find myself saying, "I haven't seen you in ages!" even if I have spoken to someone on the phone recently, or have been texting or emailing them.

 

There is something about seeing someone face to face.

 

When we are face to face with someone, we can see their reactions.  We can read their thoughts and see their emotions.  We can hear the pauses in their conversation and the changing tone in their voices.  There is something different about being close enough to someone to look into their eyes.

 

It creates intimacy and allows for authenticity.  It's harder to pretend you're fine when someone can look into your eyes and see that you're not.

 

The Bible says that Moses enjoyed this privilege in speaking to God face to face:

"The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend."

[Exodus 33:11 NIV]

 

Often we can feel as though we couldn't look God in the face, because we are too sinful or ashamed or guilty.  We think that if He looked into our eyes, He would be disappointed.  But through Jesus, we can have a close and intimate relationship with God. 

 

We can talk to Him face to face.

 

Paul describes this beautifully in his letter to the Corinthians:

 

"God said, 'Light up the darkness!' and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful."

 

[2 Corinthians 4:6 MSG]

 

We see God's love for us when we gaze into the face of Christ. But we have to choose to spend time with Him, talking face to face.

 

And as we look into the face of Christ, we see and understand that God is not disappointed in us, or ashamed of us.  He is delighted in us and rejoices over us.