I can’t do it anymore. I tell myself this often, and you would think I would eventually get the hang of this whole “surrender” to God thing.
Life gets too overwhelming at times, the pressure is high, the responsibility is weighty, and too much is at stake. But I white-knuckle my way through the storm and think I can steer through the waves only to come crashing to my knees and ask God once again to please take the helm because I cannot do this on my own.
As Jesus expressed himself, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”1
There are lots of people clamoring for your attention to stay focused on your body, convincing you that your body is always good and holy and truthful. But when we look to Scripture, especially the New Testament, we don’t see that in the full story of how God created us.
You can read more here about how I understand the goodness of our bodies as created by God, but for today’s word study, we’re focusing on the word “flesh” and what it means, not only that God showed up in flesh for us, but that we live by the Spirit, not by our flesh.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NASB
In our That You May Believe series, we’re looking at John 1 (yes, still) and how John uses this language of “flesh” to describe the physical reality and presence of God incarnate through Jesus Christ.
You likely hear this word more often explained through the writings of Paul as a way to NOT relate to God—flesh seems bad, wrong, or untrustworthy. Just see what he has had to say:
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Galatians 5:16-17
That You May Believe is a study through the gospel of John, designed to help us slow down and truly see what the text is communicating through the original language and context. Each week, paid subscribers receive a focused word study, reflections, and a reading guide to follow along personally.
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If our flesh is so corrupted and antithetical to the Spirit of God, how and why would God dwell in the flesh to be with us?
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