For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.
John 1:16-17 NET
In John 1:1-14, John introduced the Word. The Word was in the beginning. The Word was with God and is God. All things were made by the Word. In the Word was life. And the Word became flesh and lived among us.
In John 1:16-17, the Word is identified as Jesus Christ. And from Jesus, we have received gracious gifts from his fullness. What was this fulness? John 1:14 tells us that Jesus, the Word who became flesh, was full of grace and truth. It is from that fullness that we receive his gifts.
Who receives his gifts? John 1:12 referred to those who had received Jesus. They were given the right to become children of God. And it would be those who are receiving his gracious gifts.
What are these gifts? John tells us of two. The first was the law given through Moses. We sometimes have a negative impression of the law. But it was a gift given by Jesus through Moses. The law served to guide the people of God. And the law also served to demonstrate our failure and need for something even greater.
And that greater need was met by the second gift given to us. John tells us that grace and truth came about through Jesus. As all creation came about through him, so did grace and truth. Something brand new. And what was that? A new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Being born of the Spirit (John 3:3).
The gift of the law was given to guide us, to lead us to Christ. But the gift of grace and truth was given to transform us, bringing salvation and eternal life.
