In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

JOHN 1:1–5

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. 

JOHN 1:14

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This article kicks off a four-part series that goes along with our new Advent devotional journey, Down to Earth. The journey and accompanying Sunday videos and sermon plans will help you reflect on our ‘down to earth’ Saviour – the Jesus who stepped into the mess and detail of life on Earth, and calls us to do the same.

As John’s Gospel opens, we have no mention of a birth, no Mary and Joseph, no shepherds or Magi, and not a donkey in sight. John begins with a cosmic view of this ‘newborn king’ as the Word that has become flesh. We are introduced to the King of the cosmos – and yet, John announces a king like no other.

This down-to-earth king becomes one of us – ‘the Word became flesh’. Usually, kings live in palaces and wear crowns made of gold and jewels. The crown that King Charles III wore at his coronation is worth £400 million pounds. Jesus, the unusual king, will wear a crown made of thorns that wasn’t worth anything, but cost him everything.

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:7, ‘He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.’

This unusual king is a humble king. Today, we might admire humility, but this wasn’t necessarily the case in Jesus’ day, which makes this all the more unusual (watch the spoken word piece from Down to Earth for more on this). Historians will tell you that in the ancient world humility was not considered a virtue. What was prized was honour – having your qualities recognised, your status elevated, and your name praised in the public square. To boast about your achievements was not just culturally acceptable, it was expected in the Graeco-Roman world.

This all changes, flipping upside-down, with the unusual king who submitted himself to the most humiliating punishment the Romans could create – crucifixion. He entered in and pierced the darkness, hoisted up for all to see as the true light of the world.

And John tells us that this unusual king ‘made his dwelling among us’. Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase in The Message captures this verse perfectly: ‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.’

This unusual king subjected himself to the distresses and disasters of our everyday lives – he chose to live in the same world as us and experience the same daily demands and pressures of life in our village, town, or city.

The Jews had hoped for a powerful king in an impressive temple, invincible to invading powers. But God became human and pitched his tent among them.

And we’re called to live out the life of this King in our everyday places – our neighbourhoods, where we work, and where we play. To live among the lonely and the lost and be like Jesus – to shine as a light in their darkness.

Steve Rouse 
Church Team Director, LICC 

What might Jesus’ example of humility look like in a place you feel powerless?