John 1:14    The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

       

This really sums up the uniqueness of the Christian faith. Never let any one tell you all religions are the same. This verse declares our uniqueness. No where else will you find a claim that God has come to earth.

 

The Word, of course, was Jesus, as John goes on to explain. He is the very expression of God, for isn't that what a word is? Our words are part of us, they are our expression and Jesus was God expressed in a human form. Yes, we take that for granted sometimes. God didn't just come down as Spirit and speak through a cloud, He came in human form that could speak and interact with us.

He expressed his love by words and deeds, and those who were there with him at that time could interact with him and talk to him, ask him questions and watch him. In his first letter John was able to write about Jesus, “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.” (1 Jn 1:1)

 

This was the marvel of Christmas; it was God taking human form, not an adult human form but coming as a baby, born as all babies are born, in total weakness and vulnerability. God came to us so quietly and simply that most of us didn't even know. He came, if you like, as a whisper that could hardly be heard at first, a word almost unheard. Listen!