John’s gospel doesn’t commence with a baby in a manger or angels singing glory to God, or shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. John’s starting point is creation itself, “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1.2). Genesis begins the very same way, “In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1.1). The “word” used repeatedly at the beginning of John’s gospel conveys the Greek idea of a cosmic force or energy that called creation into being. Verse 14 serves as John’s clincher to his introduction, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Flesh is a vivid Greek term meaning to inhabit a human body. The Latin equivalent of flesh is where we derive our English word incarnation. Dwell in the Greek literally means “to tabernacle” or “to pitch one’s tent.” In the Old Testament, God met with people in a portable tent called a tabernacle that represented God’s localized presence. John wants to establish from the outset of his gospel that God came to dwell with us through Jesus Christ. I like the way Eugene Peterson translates this verse in The Message, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” God’s dwelling also features prominently in Revelation, as expressed in the verse, “God’s dwelling is now among the people, and He will dwell with them” (Rev. 21.3). What does all this theology in John’s gospel have to do with us? It’s what we celebrate at Christmas. God comes to dwell in human form through Jesus Christ to save and redeem.
Veit Dietrich (1506-1549) was a close confidante and associate of Martin Luther who was responsible for copying and editing many of Luther’s sermons, lectures, and dinner conversations for future publication. Veit also wrote a devotional commentary on Scripture and accompanied it with prayer. One of his prayers for Christmas follows here: