FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH

Passage: John 1:6-18

Key verse: 14

NIV

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.(A) 7 He came as a witness to testify(B) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.(C) 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light(D) that gives light to everyone(E) was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,(F) the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.(G) 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed(H) in his name,(I) he gave the right to become children of God(J)— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.(K)

14 The Word became flesh(L) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,(M) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace(N) and truth.(O)

15 (John testified(P) concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)(Q) 16 Out of his fullness(R) we have all received grace(S) in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses;(T) grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.(U) 18 No one has ever seen God,(V) but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a](W) is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

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Footnotes
  1. John 1:18 Some manuscripts but the only Son, who
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

6 There was a man (A)sent from God, whose name was (B)John. 7 He came as a (C)witness, to bear witness about the light, (D)that all might believe through him. 8 (E)He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 (F)The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet (G)the world did not know him. 11 He came to (H)his own,[a] and (I)his own people[b] (J)did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, (K)who believed in his name, (L)he gave the right (M)to become (N)children of God, 13 who (O)were born, (P)not of blood (Q)nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And (R)the Word (S)became flesh and (T)dwelt among us, (U)and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[c] from the Father, full of (V)grace and (W)truth. 15 ((X)John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, (Y)‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from (Z)his fullness we have all received, (AA)grace upon grace.[d] 17 For (AB)the law was given through Moses; (AC)grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 (AD)No one has ever seen God; (AE)the only God,[e] who is at the Father's side,[f] (AF)he has made him known.

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Footnotes
  1. John 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people
  2. John 1:11 People is implied in Greek
  3. John 1:14 Or only One, or unique One
  4. John 1:16 Or grace in place of grace
  5. John 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son
  6. John 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

There have been many who have testified to the light, but Jesus came as the true light that gives light to everyone. The Word became flesh to dwell among us. In this way, the answers to “Who is God?” and “What is his will for us?” became more real than any other religion or philosophy. What words can describe God, who was revealed in Jesus? John says: Full of grace and truth.

Jesus’ grace reaches even the deepest depths of our sin and shame. He reaches out in love to bring hope and healing to the lost, sick, and excluded of society. There is no place where Jesus does not hold our hand when we need him. He came to call us family, God's children, not bound by any class structure. In Jesus, there is neither Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, for we all belong in Christ (Gal 3:28).

The truth revealed in Jesus is also not bound by the rigidity of laws and fixed interpretations of scripture. Jesus' truth challenged the established legalistic culture and society. His truth expands our ideas of God's grace and love for humanity. It is deeper, broader and more inclusive, for it comes from God, the Creator of all life and everything.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. May your light shine on us today.

One Word: Full of grace and truth