John 1:15-18 - Lesson #7

John has taken a stand and made the purpose of the gospel absolutely clear. The Word, who was with God in the beginning and who WAS God, came to live with us. The only begotten of the Father, the Light full of grace and truth, came so that those who receive Him may be given the right to become children of God. In one sense, everything that follows in the gospel of John is in support of the first fourteen verses.

John 1:15-18
"John bore witness of Him and cried out saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

We finally see the Word, the Light, the only begotten full of grace and truth, identified as Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus (Luke 1:36); but he states that Jesus, who arrived on the ministry scene later than John, should be preferred because He existed before John. John is saying, "Jesus is the one I've been telling you about, the one you should exalt because He was in the beginning!"

The word "fullness" simply means to be completely filled. So "His fullness" is that which completely fills Christ. At the end of this passage we see that Jesus has "declared" God. This can also be translated as explained or made Him known. In Jesus we can see a clear picture of God, "He is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). Jesus is filled with all that is God, "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell" (Colossians 1:19). And it is of His fullness that we can now receive.

The phrase "grace for grace" means a continual outpouring of grace. This has a special meaning in our walk with Christ as we better understand the extent of His grace. The closer we get to Christ, the more grace we discover we require, "for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). But, thankfully, we also discover that God has more grace than what our failures require.

But the phrase "grace for grace" also has meaning in terms of God's overall plan of restoration. "The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." This should NOT be considered as two opposite extremes. Rather, Jesus is the continuation of increasing grace - grace to its fullness. The law was very gracious in that it taught us about sin and sacrifice; taught us about God's holiness and His desire for a pure relationship; taught us about our need for forgiveness and prepared our hearts for Jesus. The law was gracious, but complete grace and truth came to us in Jesus.

The fullness of grace and truth has come and is waiting to be received. Let's walk with the God which Jesus revealed, live according to His truth, and rejoice that He gives grace for grace.