What Does It Mean that God Became Flesh?

The story of Christmas is the ancient story of "The Word [becoming] flesh and [making] his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). What does this mean?

For one, it means that God bent low. The second chapter of Philippians tells us that the eternal Son "made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (verse 7, emphasis mine). The incarnation means God became a lowly servant for you. And this servanthood wouldn't end with the incarnation, it would go on to be displayed on the cross, where "he humbled himself" even further "by becoming obedient to death" (verse 8), a death that would give us "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:7-8). God bent low to be your Servant-Rescuer!

Second, the incarnation means God desires a relationship with you. "He made his dwelling among us," says the Apostle John. Literally, God "pitched his tent in our midst" to live with us, walk with us, and enjoy friendship with us, just as it used to be in the garden. This means God wants to be near to you, and he wants you to be near to him. And all your mess ups, failures, and transgressions -- even all the secret skeletons in your closet -- aren't enough to stop him from desiring you. He values you. He wants to be your God. He wants to be your friend.

The story of Christmas is the ancient story of God bending low precisely because you are important to him. Never forget that.