John 1:14. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
It had to be the Son of God who died on the cross because only the Savior who is perfectly sinless and free from original sin could save humanity. No descendant of Adam, marked by the fallen nature and living under the power of Satan, sin, and hell, could qualify. That is why Jesus came into the world as “the offspring of the woman” promised in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15).
To accomplish this, God planned the virgin birth—a miracle that would bypass human sinfulness entirely:
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (Matthew 1:21–23).
To save us from the darkness, God did the unimaginable—He stepped into human history, took on human flesh, and lived among us, all because of His infinite love and mercy. God didn’t merely say, “I love you.” He demonstrated the depth of His love by sending His one and only Son to die for us (Romans 5:8). He did this because we were utterly powerless, enslaved by sin, trapped under the dominion of Satan, and separated from Him.
When Jesus came to be baptized by John at the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in power:
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased'” (Matthew 3:16–17).
In that moment, as John laid his hand on Jesus, it was a symbolic act—the hand of the priest resting upon the head of the sacrificial Lamb who would carry the sins of the world. It was God’s public declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the one sent to fulfill the promise of salvation.
John’s message was clear and urgent: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Why did John call the arrival of Jesus the coming of the kingdom of heaven? Because with Jesus came the very presence of the King—the King of kings entering our world to reclaim His people and establish His rule of grace and truth.
Thanks be to God, who did not hold back His only Son but willingly gave Him up for us all, so that through His sacrifice, we could be rescued from the kingdom of darkness! The Son of God became the Son of Man for us. We were once trapped in sin, enslaved by fear, and bound for destruction, but God, in His mercy, brought us into the glorious kingdom of His Son—a kingdom overflowing with life, hope, peace, and true freedom.
In Christ, we are no longer strangers or outsiders but citizens of God’s eternal kingdom, adopted as His beloved children, and called to live every day in His love, power, and victory. This incredible reality was made possible through the coming of Jesus, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection. These are not merely historical events—they are the greatest, most life-changing, and most significant moments in all of human history. Through them, the power of sin and death was broken, the gates of heaven were opened, and the way was made for all who believe to be restored to God forever.
Are you burdened by the struggles and problems of life? Are you still clinging to the temporary things of the world—“the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16)? Remember this unshakable truth: our Lord Jesus shattered the power of the devil, opened a new and living way to God, and set us free from the chains of sin and the fear of death.
Do not be deceived or discouraged. You are already aboard “the salvation ship,” commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ, who loves you and gave His life for you. Even when you stumble, you will not be abandoned. No storm, no trial, no attack from the enemy can destroy you. Stay with Him, trust Him, and continue this journey of faith!
Prayer. Lord Jesus, I thank You for coming to be with me. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who loved me and gave Your life for me. I desire to walk with You and live as Your witness for the rest of my days. In Your mighty name I pray, Amen.