Jesus Brings the Grace and Truth
John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” 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. No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
John 1:15-18 NET Read More
The things that Jesus said and did were all done to make the Father known to us. At the same time, it was God the Father that came into the world, sent by Himself, to make Himself known. The closest fellowship that has ever existed has always desired to make Himself known to the rest of us.
Moses talked to God like one man talks to another. He was close to God and received the Torah (the way or the law) directly from God to pass on to mankind. Jesus is God Himself, and beyond the Law is able to bring us grace and truth.
The Law was a gift in many ways. It was a constitution for a nation. It was a structure for a way of life for people that had only known slavery for 400 years. It was a set of Rules of Engagement between people and God. The Law, unfortunately, didn’t have the power to bring about regenerative, transforming life. Like guard rails can keep a car on the road but can’t manufacture a Toyota, the Law was a very good thing, but it wasn’t the source of life. It was lovable–look at how many places the Psalms say “I love your law!” but it was not livable.
When Jesus came, He was like the owner showing up to make exceptions that the manager didn’t have authority to make. Jesus kept to the Law and never broke a single rule, but knew how to navigate the difficult parts that could get confusing when they played out. Instead of more lists of laws to refine the existing laws, Jesus brought grace and truth in a perfect bundle.
Grace, in that He would forgive many people’s sins without the temple sacrifice, but truth in that He Himself would offer a technically better sacrifice. Grace, because no one deserved anything He did for them, but truth in that He didn’t always do what people wanted Him to do.
Jesus is great and John knew it. Jesus is the ruler over all things and at the same time is knee-deep in all of those same things. That is grace and truth in it’s fullness, and that is what Jesus brings to you.
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