“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.” John 1:16
This is a most fascinating verse. When I read it for the first time I had to take a second look. John the Baptist said, “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16). Since John the Baptist is still speaking here about Jesus, the “we”refers to all Israelites. The phrase “grace for grace” means “grace after grace.” Like the waves along a beach, one wave of grace after another has been repeatedly manifested in Israel’s history. Everything the nation of Israel had received was based on the grace of Jesus Christ. Israel’s existence today (and ours) is a testimony of God’s grace.
An example of God’s grace in Israel’s history is seen in verse 17. “For the law was given through Moses” (John 1:17a). When the law was given through Moses, Israel stood in great need of God’s grace. While Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the Law from God, Israel was down below sinning against the Lord by making a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32:1-6). For such a sin, the Law required only condemnation and judgment. Hence, God’s anger burned against His people (Exodus 32:7-10). But Moses prayed to God and God spared the nation by His grace (Exodus 32:14). A purifying judgment ensued (Exodus 32:15-29).
Moses then sought reassurance that God would forgive and accept the nation as His own. So “the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation’” (Exodus 34:6-7). We see a definite clash between God’s grace and truth here. How can God forgive “iniquity and transgression and sin” and yet “by no means clearing the guilty?”
The solution is finally found in Jesus Christ. “But grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17b). Through Christ and His sacrifice as the Lamb of God, the dilemma is resolved. Truth expresses God’s righteous character and demands punishment for our sins. Christ was a perfect display of God’s truth. He was perfect and sinless. God’s judgment fell on Jesus instead of us. Grace is seen as a result of Christ’s death. We can cross over to God by faith in Jesus. God is now free to be gracious to all who receive that grace by faith in Christ.
Out of the “fullness” of His grace, Jesus blesses us with one wave of grace after another (John 1:16). One wave of grace is constantly replaced by a new one each day. Psalm 68:19 says, “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits.” Although we may be feeling bombarded with a multitude of challenges these days, God still has an endless variety of ways to bless us.
He may bless us with a friendly smile from a worker at a drive thru window or from someone standing in line at a bus stop. And the truth of the matter is if we would smile more, we will encounter more people who are smiling back at us.
Jesus’ grace also enriches our lives with natural beauty all around us. It may be in the form of a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day or blossoms on a flowering tree. In the morning it may be a bird’s beautiful song or in the evening it may be the splendor of the moon and the stars. All of God’s creation is there for us to enjoy.
When I look back on my life, the one word that stands out to me is “grace.” By God’s grace He has brought me through disappointment and pain, some of which was caused by others and some I brought on myself. At the age of nineteen, the Lord Jesus saved me from my sins and gave me everlasting life the moment I believed in Him. By His grace He has enabled me to serve Him the last forty-one years. And by His grace He will lead me forward one day at a time.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, grace is who You are and grace is what You give in abundance. My life is a testimony to this. Thank You for giving me what I do not deserve – forgiveness, everlasting life, salvation from hell, and a future home in heaven. When I look back on my life, Your grace has brought joy out of sadness and given me peace under pressure. Thank You my Lord and my God for being everything to me. I praise You for the endless manifestations of Your grace my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen.