Jesus humbly submitted Himself to begin in the earliest stages of human life, to be confined in a small space in amniotic fluid hidden from the world, and dependent upon nourishment and protection from a woman.  This is simply about the incredible state of humiliation of Jesus Christ, “the Word,” that John wrote was “made flesh” for our redemption.

Celebrating Advent Sunday, my pastor preached on John 1: 1-14 focusing on “The Word Made Flesh.”  The Gospel of John begins with this awesome truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.”  This is a mystery being revealed, as God said: “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness . . .”  when creating man (Genesis 1: 26). The plurals “Us,” “in Our image,” and “Our likeness” represent a mystery alluding to a plurality as to who God is.

John continues in the 14^th verse: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us . . .”  Generally speaking, this causes us to think of the Word as the baby born in Bethlehem under unique circumstances.

Perhaps most are like me in thinking of that Word becoming flesh only after He was born.  However, as my pastor continued to preach, my mind and spirit went where it has never gone before with regard to what happened to Mary: “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20). The Word  that was conceived in Mary began as a zygote (an egg fertilized by the Holy Spirit—not a human sperm), developing into an embryo, and becoming a fetus.  He was in one of those phases of development when Mary visited her pregnant cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was carrying John the Baptist who in the womb did something very unusual: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. . . For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1: 41, 44).

John the Baptist, still developing in Elizabeth’s womb, leaped for joy!  Why?  Because God, His Lord and Savior—who was also developing in the flesh, had just entered their home in the womb of Mary; John was aware of God in the flesh.  Is this not a mystery further startling our comprehension?

Thanks to sonograms and ultrasounds that show the phases of development of infants in the womb, we have an advantage today that previous generations didn’t have. Videos reveal the movements of infants, their knitted formation, their growth, and their beauty.  We know how early a heartbeat begins, when hearing develops, how they exercise their limbs, suck their thumbs, can be treated surgically, and so much more.

Is it possible the “Word made flesh” took place before Jesus was born and while in the womb of Mary? Jeremiah 1: 5 supports this possibility: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you . . .” 

Or, Psalm 139: 13-17: “For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. . . wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully formed in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my formless substance . . .”

Christ’s humility expressed in Philippians 2: 6-7 may have even begun before He was born: “. . .  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men…. Jesus humbly submitted Himself to begin in the earliest stages of human life, to be confined in a small space in amniotic fluid hidden from the world, and dependent upon nourishment and protection from a woman.  This is simply about the incredible state of humiliation of Jesus Christ, “the Word,” that John wrote was “made flesh” for our redemption.

As we meditate during this Advent season, may we marvel on the awesome wonder that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ humbled himself in order to reconcile us to God.

“The Word made flesh” took place in a womb, and was then manifested in a manger.  God’s ways are past finding out.  “Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11: 33). The incarnation is a mystery that keeps inspiring us to holy awe.

Helen Louise Herndon is a member of Central Presbyterian Church (EPC) in St. Louis, Missouri. She is freelance writer and served as a missionary to the Arab/Muslim world in France and North Africa.