Any consideration of the Word being made flesh in the continuing Body of Christ must recognize that God accommodates the Divine message to the capacity of people to perceive it. The Word is not made flesh in unworldly form or even only in a vehicle of purity. The Word of God was continuing to be fleshed out in the life of Israel in times of obedience and disobedience.
Jesus recapitulated the life of the people of Israel. In Jesus we understand what an obedient Israel is like. (Hebrews 4:15) But he did not cancel out Israel’s chosenness as a vehicle by which light came to the nations. As Paul suggests, “…but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28b-29)
We need to study the stories of the Israelites and that of the early disciples as well as the church for clues to how God reveals Godself even in the midst of disobedience. For example, what was the Divine Word spoken while James and John were seeking seats of power in the kingdom or when Peter began to sink beneath the waves? This will help us to understand how we can, as a church, reflect on our total behavior and perceive what God is saying through us both in times of obedience and disobedience.
