Early in Christian history there were heretical movements that, in some ways, identified with Christianity, while simultaneously corrupting the message of Christ. One such heresy was Docetism-a name drawn from the Greek word δοκεῖν, meaning "to appear" or "to seem." The Docetists claimed that Jesus didn't really have a physical body, but He only appeared to-in essence, deceiving people into thinking He was a physical being when He was really just of a "phantom" or "mirage." In essence, Jesus only "seemed" to be human, but his physical body, His mortal existence, was nothing more than an illusion. Consequently, many Docetists believed that Jesus was not crucified and, thus, never died for our sins nor rose from the dead.

In our verse for today, Docetic beliefs are confronted and denied. John's declaration in V:14 contradicts the notion that the Savior was somehow a "phantom" spirit without any physical, mortal body. Indeed, when the apostle speaks of Jesus as the Logos or "Word" of God who "became flesh," and who "dwelt among us," this directly undermines the Docetic view that Jesus was only a mirage, a non-physical being. John tells us that God's "Word," His "Son," took upon Himself a tabernacle of "flesh." When the Apostle speaks of Jesus as "dwelling" among first century Christians, the Greek word used there is ἐσκήνωσεν, which means to live in a "tabernacle" (i.e., a physical body, much like the ancient "tabernacle" was a physical edifice). Thus, John is very much aware of the heretical teachings about Jesus, and he confronts those head on.

So, how does this verse have application in our lives today-as non-Docetic Christians? Well, the Docetists claimed Jesus was something He was not. They essentially denied the nature of His divinity by turning Him into something other than what He really was. Today, some do the same. There are those who see Jesus as nothing more than a "great moral teacher," a "buddha figure" of sorts. There are movements on the fringes of Christianity who acknowledge Jesus' greatness while denying His full divinity. Indeed, the Docetic Jesus didn't die and, therefore, didn't ransom us from death and sin. Some theologically progressive Christians today likewise wish to deny the need for Jesus to work out a "ransom sacrifice," preferring instead that He was just really a "great guy" to taught us how to live a "good life"-but beyond that, He was nothing more than you or me.

So, what's your form of Docetism? Is there any way in which you're downplaying Jesus' divinity? If you doubt that He was fully God, you downplay it. If you question His atoning sacrifice, you downplay it. Frankly, if you think what Jesus went through could never be enough to pay for the mistakes you've made, you're denying His full divinity. John was quite concerned about so-called Christians who turned Jesus into something He was not or made Him less than He really was. And the Apostle John would be equally concerned in our day if we were to do the same-thereby limiting the impact He can have in our lives and upon our salvation.