John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory… (text in conjunction with Ephesians 3:17): — There are two births of Christ — one unto the world, the other into the soul. Men think more of the former than of the latter and celebrate it every year; but the latter is equally momentous. The soul has its births; the rising into conscious existence of every latent sentiment, filial, connubial, parental, Christian. I. THE ANALOGY between those two Incarnations. 1. Both result from Divine interposition. 2. Both create great epochs; the temporal advent was the crisis of history. The B.C. meets in it, the A.D. starts from it. And from the Spiritual advent all after life takes its date and derives its impulse. 3. Both awaken antagonism, the former Herod's hostility, etc., the latter that of the depraved nature. 4. Both are manifestations of God. II. THE DISSIMILARITY. 1. The one may become a curse to man, the other must be a blessing. Nothing so terrible to a lost soul as the former. It aggravates the world's guilt and augments its responsibility. The latter brings sunshine to the soul and ever advancing blessedness. 2. The one occurred without man's choice, the other requires his seeking. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. |
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