Word Made Flesh

Sermon January 4, 2026, John 1:1-18

Word Made Flesh

Reverend Fred Okello

I recently watched a movie in which the spirit of an old king appears in a six-year-old child. That kid had all the knowledge, wisdom, skills, and powers of a great king. But to everyone else, he appeared to be a normal person. His family hated him, didn't get him, and ignored him, except for his grandmother. She was the only one who knew that this child was more than just a child. Something much bigger lived inside of him.

That story helps us understand the context of John 1. Jesus didn't come into the world with visible crowns or armies. He came from a simple family and lived in a small town. He had a normal life. Many people looked at Him and saw nothing special. But John tells us that the eternal Word of God was right there in front of us all along. It was the wisdom, power, and glory of God in human form.

John starts his Gospel in eternity, not at the manger. John starts with words that sound like Genesis: "In the beginning..." The Word existed prior to creation, time, and history.

Bethlehem was not where Jesus began. He was always there. John says that the Word was with God and that the Word was God. They were separate but still fully divine. He made everything that is. He is not a part of creation; He is the Creator. In him was life, and that life was the light of humanity. The darkness has not overcome that light.

When I first arrived at Bethel and Emmanuel, these churches didn't appear very impressive to the world. Small groups of people. Few resources. Some hearts were broken after years of fighting, with no clear idea of what would happen next. Some people might have thought there wasn't much life left. But as time went on, I started to see something else: faithful people still praying, giving, showing up, and trusting God. Life existed from the beginning, even if it wasn't clear at first.

John tells us that the real Light came into the world, but the world didn't see Him. Even His own people turned their backs on Him. People didn't understand Jesus because He didn't meet their expectations. People wanted power; He gave them humility. They wanted to be sure; He gave them faith.

There were times on our journey together when some people doubted the path God was leading us on. The new leadership structure, the renewed focus on mission over meetings, and the request that everyone, not just a few, take on responsibility all felt strange. Some people didn't want to go along, not because they didn't believe, but because God was doing something new in a way they didn't expect. When the light doesn't appear as we expect it to, we may be tempted to turn it down.

But John reminds us that He gives those who accept Him the power to become God's children. John says what the Gospel is all about: "The Word became flesh and lived among us."

The beauty of the gospel is that God did not stay away. He got close. He lived with other people, ate with them, felt pain, and showed mercy. It was not his power that showed his glory, but his grace and truth.

We have seen this grace in action here, in acts such as sharing meals, praying for the sick, welcoming new members, caring for preschoolers, and helping one another through tough times. We haven't seen God's glory through big events, but rather through being there for one another. We have met grace upon grace in everyday things, such as attending church on Sundays, studying the Bible, saying quiet prayers, and performing small acts of love that don't make the news.

In conclusion, faith needs spiritual sight. Do we see a child or a King? What is our perception of ourselves as people of God? In my understanding, God is still at work in Bethel and Emmanuel. He does so quietly and humbly, but with great power. The question isn't whether God is present, but whether we know Him.

Will we ignore what seems normal? Or will we see the glory of the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth, living with us?

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Amen.