John 1:14 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This verse highlights the doctrine of the Incarnation and continues the description of the Word that opened the Gospel in verse 1. The divine Word, who was God, became flesh (sarx). In this verse, flesh refers to being human. There is no negative connotation of flesh in this verse, like how Paul uses the term in Romans 8 or Galatians 5. There is nothing intrinsically sinful about human flesh. Human flesh is weak but morally neutral. The Word came in this weakened state of existence in order to identify with and be an example to all other human beings. This statement also countered any heresies developing in the early church, such as Gnosticism or Docetism, which claimed that Jesus could not have been in the flesh but only in spirit.
The Word came to earth for a short period of time and dwelt (eskeskēnōsen) with people. The word used here can mean to pitch a tent and live for a while. The Word came to earth and lived among those he came to save. The next statement indicates how though he appeared like any other human being, he also had divine power as the gorious Son of God. John balances and holds in tension Jesus’ humanity and divinity. The one who became flesh also possessed the glory of God. Glory (doxan) is an important word in the Bible and represents God’s essential character of holiness and uniqueness. Anything else called glorious derives this glory from its relationship with God. Since the Word is God, he also possesses the same glory as God but in human form.
John makes another significant claim when he defines this glory further as being unique among all human beings. The glory of God is best seen in the only Son from the Father. John does not refer to the virgin birth, like Luke. There is no mention of Jesus being conceived through the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit. Rather, John uses the idea of only begotten (monogenous). There is only one person in all of creation for whom this word can be used. The word is made up of two parts. Mono refers to one of a kind or “unique.” Jesus is in a category of his own. Although he was human, he was unlike any other human because of his unique birth. The word should not be interpreted to mean that Jesus did not exist at one point because of how John opened his book in verses 1-4 with the claim of the Word’s divinity. The uniqueness of the Word is also emphasized with the use of the word of glory.
Another description of the Word gives two more significant ideas that appear later in this Gospel. Full of grace refers to God’s mercy and compassion shown through Jesus’ ministry. The word grace (charitos) is repeated in verses 16 and 17. Grace is God’s undeserved gift of forgiveness and new birth offered to those who trust in his source of salvation offered through Jesus. Truth counters the darkness that has deceived humanity into believing false promises that claim happiness and fulfillment. Jesus is the Truth because he provides the only way to the Father and eternal life (14:6).
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