The Word Had Become Man
Why should we feel excitement when we come to the Word? Why should we have the feelings of security and steadfastness when we face the Word? Why should you feel different when you approach the Word? First, because the Word is God. He is eternal and He is the Creator. And second, because the Word had become man! The Word has become flesh! The Word had become a human being. John 1: 14 says: “The Word became flesh and lived for a while 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.”

who is God, came to earth as man. He did not merely “appear” like a man; He became one! Apostle Paul wrote, “Christ Jesus: who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Phil 2:6-7) In other words, humanity was added to Christ’s deity. Christ in becoming “flesh” did not change His divine nature. The word “became” should be understood as “took to Himself.” The Word became flesh. The Word took to Himself “flesh.” The Word took to Himself the human nature, without human sinfulness or weakness, but a perfect human nature.

Notice in verse 14 what John immediately says following his words of becoming “flesh”? He followed up with the glorious splendor of the Son of God. He was also an eyewitness of the glory. John said, “lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory…” The glory of Jesus as the one and only Son of God was revealed through His words and works, especially through His death and resurrection.

Imagine, my dear friends, Jesus the God is bigger than the whole universe. How big is the whole universe? Much bigger than whatever you can ever imagine! Now God is much bigger than the whole universe. So God is much, much bigger than what you can imagine. He is beyond our imagination.

The Word Had Become Powerless Man
If I were God, I would have come to earth by a typhoon, or by a chariot of fire, or at least by a UFO, or something grander than a manger. But God chose to humble Himself to come as a man not only through a manger. He had chosen something humbler than a manger. He came through a fertilized ovum in a virgin’s womb. The eternal Creator of the whole universe had chosen to be humbly confined in a fertilized egg in a human womb for nine months. The One who controls the whole universe had chosen to be controlled by human nature. The One who is All-Powerful had chosen to become powerless. He needed to depend upon His parents to nurse Him, to feed Him, to clothe Him, and to teach Him.

Isn’t that mind-blowing? Isn’t that overwhelming? Isn’t that exciting?

Nouwen entitled “In the Name of Jesus.” Nouwen was a professor in Harvard University for many years. But he moved from Harvard to serve in a center for the mentally handicapped. He moved from teaching the best and the brightest who want to rule the world, to serving men and women who had few or no words and were considered, at best, marginal to the needs of our society. (p.11) Henri Nouwen said these powerful words in his tiny book, “One of the greatest ironies of the history of Christianity is that its leaders constantly gave in to the temptation of power—political power, military power, economic power, or moral and spiritual power—even though they continued to speak in the name of Jesus, who did not cling to his divine power but emptied himself and became as we are.” (p.58) He went on to emphasize: “The most important quality of Christian leadership in the future is not a leadership of power and control, but a leadership of powerlessness and humility in which the suffering servant of God, Jesus Christ, is made manifest.” (p. 63)

Be Powerful By Becoming Powerless
My friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, in this new year, learn to be powerful by becoming powerless. Learn to be strong by becoming weak. Learn to be rich by becoming poor. Live life like John the Baptist.

Throughout the passage quoted, the Apostle John was a witness of Christ the Word. The word “witness” in Greek is “martyr.” It simply means to assert what you have seen and heard. Many of the early Christians gave their utmost in witness by being faithful unto death and earn their right to be called martyrs. John the Baptist was beheaded for the sake of the Word. Many other disciples of Jesus were also martyred for the Word of God.

Jesus has given His utmost. Jesus has given all He has. He was not like the prophets who brought the words of God. Jesus was the Word of God! Jesus was not only preaching the Word of God with His lips, He was preaching the Word with His life and death. He was not only the spokesman of God, He was God Himself. And He became flesh in order to bring God to us, and to bring us back to God. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, are you willing to be martyred for the Word? Are you willing to die in witnessing for Christ? Are you willing to give the utmost for the Word?

To be willing to give the utmost for the Word, you have to first of all understand that the Word is fully God and yet a perfect Man. To be willing, you have to then receive the Word personally. Trust in the Word to cleanse your sins and to give you new and eternal life. To be willing, you must want to witness for the Word – witness with your lips AND your life.

When I received the Word 39 years ago, I was excited. I was also eager to share the Word with others. Since then, wherever I go, whatever church or theological school I am in, I make it my lifestyle to join or to start an evangelistic team. It is only natural and meaningful that you want to share the Word with others after you received the Word of Life! It is only normal that you witness for the Word after you trusted in the Word!

Stepping into the new year, please live a normal Christian life by telling one non-Christian relative or friend about the Word. And let the Word excite you and your loved ones. May the good Lord bless you all with a meaningful new year.

By Rev Dr Tie King Tai
Principal,
Methodist Theological School