1:14 "the Word became flesh"
John is attacking the false doctrine of the Gnostics, who were attempting to merge Christianity with Greek pagan thought.
Jesus was truly human and truly God (cf. 1 John 4:1-3) in fulfillment of the promise of Immanuel (cf. Isa. 7:14).
God took up residence as a man among fallen mankind (literally, "pitched His tent"). The term "flesh" in John never refers to the sin nature as in Paul's writings.
"dwelt among us" Literally, this is "took up residence." It had a Jewish background from the wilderness wandering period and the Tabernacle (cf. Rev. 7:15; 21:3). The Jews later called this wilderness experience the "honeymoon period" between YHWH and Israel. God was never closer to Israel than during this period.
The Jewish term for the special divine cloud that guided Israel during this period was "the Shekinah," the Hebrew term "to dwell with."
"we saw His glory"
The OT kabod (glory) has now been personified, incarnated.
This refers to (1) something in Jesus' life such as the transfiguration or the ascension (i.e., apostolic testimony, cf. 2 Pet. 1:16-17) or
(2) the concept that the invisible YHWH is now visible and fully known. This is the same emphasis as 1 John 1:1-4, which is also an emphasis on the humanity of Jesus in opposition to the false Gnostic emphasis on the antagonistic relationship between spirit and matter.
In the OT the most common Hebrew word for "glory" (kabod, BDB 458 ) was originally a commercial term (which referred to a pair of scales), literally, "to be heavy." That which was heavy was valuable or had intrinsic worth. Often the concept of brightness was added to the word to express God's majesty (i.e., first on Mr. Sinai, the Shekinah cloud of glory, eschatological light, cf. Exod. 13:21-22; 24:17; Isa. 4:5; 60:1-2). He alone is worthy and honorable. He is too brilliant for fallen mankind to behold (cf. Exod. 33:17-23; Isa. 6:5).
God can only be truly known through Christ (cf. John 1:14,18; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3).
Since the Father owns all of creation this means that all of creation equally belongs to the Son!
Christ is further identified as the Lord of glory,
“which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory (ton Kyrion tes doxes).” 1 Corinthians 2:8
The Lord who is said to be glory itself:
“My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory (tou Kyriou hemon, 'Iesou Christou, tes doxes) with partiality.” James 2:1
The Greek literally reads “the Lord of us, Jesus Christ, the Glory,” a reading that has baffled translators as to how to correctly render it into English. This can be seen from the way the following versions translate the expression:
“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” English Standard Version (ESV)
“My brothers, as you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Glory, pay no servile regard to people.” James Moffatt New Testament (Moffatt)
“My brothers, stop trying to maintain your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious presence of God on earth, along with acts of partiality to certain ones.” Williams New Testament
In our estimation, Moffatt and Williams have captured James’ intended meaning, since by identifying Jesus as “the Glory” it seems certain that James was describing Christ as the visible presence of God, what is commonly referred to in Judaism as God’s Shekinah/Shekhinah, God’s manifest presence that permeates the entire creation.
Hence, Jesus is none other than Yahweh Incarnate, the very King of glory himself for whom all creation was made:
“who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For BY HIM all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created THROUGH HIM, and FOR HIM. He IS before all things, and IN HIM all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that IN ALL THINGS he might have THE PREEMINENCE.” Colossians 1:13-18
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word… And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’… He also says, ‘In the beginning, Lord [the Son], you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.’” Hebrews 1:1-3a, 10-12 New International Version (NIV)
Astonishingly, the writer of Hebrews has taken the following Psalm, which describes Yahweh as the unchanging Creator and Sustainer of all creation,
“Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you… But you, Yahweh, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations… I said, ‘My God, don’t take me away in the middle of my days. Your years are throughout all generations. Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed. But you are the same. Your years will have no end.’” Psalm 102:1, 12, 24-27
And applied it to the Lord Jesus!
In light of the foregoing, could the Holy Bible be any clearer in describing Jesus Christ as Yahweh God Almighty in the flesh, the Father’s eternally beloved Son who sits enthroned with him as the King of all creation? The answer is quite obvious.
More links and sources if you are interested brother-
Johann