AVIZANDUM: The Verse that Astonishes Me

Avizandam. In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters. Avise endum I believe that the Bible is the Word of God.

So when the Bible speaks, God speaks. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy that all scripture is inspired by God, and I'm committed to the inspiration and inertia of all scripture. Scripture is breathed out by God. It comes from God. It has its origin in God.

However, while all of Scripture is profitable, there are some verses in the Bible which are astonishing. And one of these is John 1, 1st chapter of John, verse 14.

So this is what John writes. And the word became flesh. And dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory. The glory as of the only Son from the Father, full, Of grace and truth.

In verse 1 of John 1, John has explained that the Word was God.

Furthermore, he has explained that all things were made by the Word, who is the Son of God. The word did not come into being at Bethlehem. John is saying in verse fourteen. that the word became flesh. The was of verse one is contrasted with the became of verse fourteen.

The Son of God never became in the sense of coming into being. The word never became God. What happened at Bethlehem? Was that the eternal existing word became man? Athanasius put it this way.

He became what he was not. He continued to be what he always was. Our Lord Jesus. Says in John chapter 3, verse 13, that he descended from heaven. And we know the wonderful verse of John 3.16.

That God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.

So the little baby born in a stable and laid in a manger is none other than the Eternal God. The word becoming flesh. is a staggering event without parallel in the history of the universe. The truth that Jesus is God. And that the word became flesh is at the very heart of the Christian faith.

No? A Jesus Christ is not a creature made by God. Rather As Isaiah puts it, he is the mighty God. He is the Creator of all things. He is the great I am.

The self-existent one. Who always has existed and who always will exist. He is the Alpha. And the Amiga. The beginning and the end.

the eternal God. No. It's difficult for us to understand that Jesus is not only truly God, he's truly man. By becoming what he had never been before, that is, man, he did not cease to be what he always had been, that is, God. but in great love and compassion.

God sent His Son into this world. Jesus says he'd come to seek and to save the lost. In Jesus Christ there is the ultimate, supreme, and final disclosure of God Himself.

So, if we want to know God, we look at Jesus Christ, who said, He who has seen me has seen the Father.

So this Christmas season Let us again humbly bow. and acknowledge Jesus The mighty God. The word became flesh. The one who is our Saviour. and Lord.

There is none like him. Nor will there ever be anyone like him.

So listen again to the astonishing verse of John chapter 1 verse 14. And the word became flesh. And dwelt among us. And we have seen His glory. Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full, of grace and truth.

That's Christmas. Avazando. You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is Senior Pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms.

For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com/slash the verdict.