Chapter 16.

The Apostle John Interrupted

His Narrative of Jesus’ Life

To Present a Gospel Message.

 

Again, John broke away from telling the life story of Christ to emphasize some truths about Jesus’ outreach to humanity.  His Message is elegant and complex.  The Amplified Bible captures the full meaning of John’s thoughts.  We quote it here, and then, we analyze it phrase by phrase.  John wrote ...

... out of His [Jesus’] fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]. For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God [His essence, His divine nature] at any time; the [One and] only begotten God [that is, the unique Son] who is in the intimate presence of the Father, He has explained Him [and interpreted and revealed the awesome wonder of the Father].  (John 1:16-18 AMP)

 

John noted ...

... out of Jesus’ fullness -- His super-abundance of grace and truth -- we have all received grace upon grace . ..

A full list of these graces would be infinite.  Consider these.  Jesus created our Universe and you and me.  He has prepared a mansion in Heaven for each of us who make Him the Lord of our lives.  He invented everything in nature -- the beautiful flowers and their delightful fragrances, the majestic trees, the fascinating birds. the graceful deer, the acrobatic monkeys, and the massive elephants.  He designed maternal love, romantic love, and all of our other emotions.  He is the author of things we have not yet discovered.

 

We have received grace upon grace such as spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift. For the Law was given through Moses, but grace -- the unearned and undeserved favor of God -- and truth came to us through Jesus Christ.

Consider all the blessings and favors and gifts that have come to you.  Most of them, you did not earn or even deserve.  Focus, especially, on the blessings Christ has given you.  He made you.  He left Heaven to live among us and teach us truths about who we are and where we are going to spend eternity.  Moses was a great man.  He taught us a lot about morality.  But, Jesus gave us a path to the Millennial Kingdom and the New Heavens and Earth.

 

No one has seen God -- His essence and His divine nature -- at any time. The only begotten Son of God is in the intimate presence of the Father. He has explained the Triune God and interpreted and revealed the awesome wonder of Him.

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9 NIV)

 

 

Grace For Grace

 

The King James Version of this passage elicits another thought not mentioned above.  It implies, “Of His fullness we have grace for grace,” meaning, “Jesus gave us the grace needed to receive grace.”  John penned ...

... of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.  (John 1:16-18 KJV)

The idea that Jesus must give convers to Christianity the grace to receive grace was popularized by the hymn, “Amazing Grace”, written by John Newton.  He penned ...

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.