Day 1 — The Word Became Flesh

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

— John 1:1 (BSB)

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

— John 1:14 (BSB)

When does the story of Jesus begin? You might say, “In Bethlehem, when He was born.” That’s where Matthew and Luke begin their books. But John starts somewhere much earlier. He starts at the very beginning of everything.

“In the beginning was the Word.” Do those first words sound familiar? They’re the same words that open the whole Bible in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” John is telling us that before the world was made, before the first star or the first ocean, the Word was already there.

Who is the Word? Keep reading and you’ll find out: “The Word became flesh.” The Word is Jesus.

Why call Him “the Word”? Think about what words do. When you want someone to know what you’re thinking, you use words. Words show what’s inside you. Jesus is God’s Word, because He shows us exactly what God is like. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.

John says three amazing things about the Word. He “was with God,” so He has always been close to the Father. He “was God,” so He isn’t just a messenger or an angel. He is God Himself. And He “became flesh.” The God who made everything became a real human being, with skin and bones, who got hungry and tired, who laughed and cried.

John says He “made His dwelling among us.” The word John used means He pitched His tent with us. He moved into our neighborhood!

And John had seen it with his own eyes: “We have seen His glory.” Jesus was “full of grace and truth.” Grace means He was full of undeserved kindness. Truth means everything He said and did was real and right.

That’s who we’re going to follow this month. Not just a man from history, but God, who came close.

Think about it: Why is it so amazing that the God who made everything would become a human being?

Try this: Read John 1:1–14 in your Bible. Every time you see “the Word,” say “Jesus” instead.

Dear Jesus, You were there in the beginning, and You are God. Thank You for becoming a human being and coming to live among us. Help me see what God is like by looking at You. Over these 30 days, help me know You better. In Your name, Amen.