John's Gospel begins by telling us that the "Word became flesh." (John 1:14) The word Incarnation refers to the fact that the Second Person of the Trinity became man. Jesus is God made flesh. The Incarnation means that between God and us there is now a mediator. As Son of God, Jesus can speak for God. As man, Jesus can speak for us. The very fact of the Incarnation repairs the rift between God and his creation. But there is another way in which the Incarnation changes things for us. Jesus became man so that he could live among us and be our Savior. In doing so, he taught us what it means to be truly human. Jesus is the great educator in humanity. From him we can learn the most important things we need to know in order to be truly alive.