The Incarnational Jesus
by Leon Fancher

The gospel of John starts very different from the other three accounts of Jesus’ life. Matthew, Mark and Luke all begin their account with the mother’s side of this story and it is very important to see that part of his life. He was born of a virgin and fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament. However John starts his account from the Father’s side of the story. John starts with the creation. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” NIV

John 1: 3-5. Tells us that he was involved with all of creation. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Skip down to verse 11. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

John 1: 14. Speaks of His Incarnation “The Word became flesh” and made his dwelling among us. “Incarnational” has to do with the divine becoming human, the logos (Word) becoming flesh. When we are born of God or born again, we take on the divine nature. Peter wrote of this in 2 Peter 1:3-4 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Since Jesus was incarnational so are we when we are born again. We still have a human body but we now have a divine nature or eternal life (God Life). Look at what John wrote in I John 5:11-12. “God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” I John 5:13 tells us, “that you may know that you have eternal life.” Eternal life does not start after death, but when we die to self take up our cross and follow Jesus. I John 5:20 says, “We are In him who is true-even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”  

Another truth that we must recognize pertains to the Holy Spirit and the Love of God. Romans 5:5 “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” We can do nothing that pleases God by ourselves, but with the life of God, the love of God, the spirit of God and Christ in us, we can be and do whatever God desires of us. Colossians 1:27 “…Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

God bless and have a full and meaningful life.

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