14 And the Word
became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness
of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after
me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” 16 And of His
fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was
given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen
God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He
has declared Him.
Vs. 14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The Word became flesh! No greater declaration is found in the all the Scriptures than that the Living Word of God became flesh! That is the Eternal Son of God became the Son of Man and dwelt among us. Thus, He set aside all of His Rights and Privileges as the Son of God and He put on mortal flesh so that He might dwell among us to bring God near to us, and us near to Him, when He would be crucified for us all. Therefore, John declares that he personally beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now with John saying He beheld Jesus Christ’s glory (here on earth) as the only begotten of the Father, he is likely referring to seeing Jesus’ transfiguration on the Mount (see Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:17,18). That said, John also saw His glory revealed in many other ways, in the Works He did, and the things He said. And so, in beholding the Lord Jesus Christ’s glory while He was on earth dwelling among us, the Apostle John could draw only one conclusion of Him, and that is He is full of grace and truth!
Vs. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”
The Apostle John now recalls John the Baptists testimony of Christ, for even he said, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” Therefore, though John the Baptist was revered by the people, (and still is some people’s eyes) he himself only revered and testified to the Lord Jesus Christ, never himself!
Vs. 17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
What a contrast then, for the law (which condemns all as sinners in the sight of God) was given through Moses; thus, salvation does not come through the law, nor through Moses; rather grace and truth comes through Jesus Christ. Notice the order, grace and truth, for though the law is truth there is no grace found in it, for to be guilty of one offense under it is to be guilty of all! Therefore, seeking salvation by one’s own righteousness according to the law will only result in one’s complete condemnation! for God will not accept anything less then sinless perfection according to the law for our souls redemption, and that we can only have by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Perfect and Sinless Lamb of God who fulfilled the law for us!
Vs. 18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
Here John declares that no one has seen God the Father, except His only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. The unique relationship then of Jesus Christ the Son to God the Father uniquely qualifies Him alone to declare Him, for He alone has seen and known Him.
Scripture Quotations
Vs. 14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The Word became flesh! No greater declaration is found in the all the Scriptures than that the Living Word of God became flesh! That is the Eternal Son of God became the Son of Man and dwelt among us. Thus, He set aside all of His Rights and Privileges as the Son of God and He put on mortal flesh so that He might dwell among us to bring God near to us, and us near to Him, when He would be crucified for us all. Therefore, John declares that he personally beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now with John saying He beheld Jesus Christ’s glory (here on earth) as the only begotten of the Father, he is likely referring to seeing Jesus’ transfiguration on the Mount (see Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:17,18). That said, John also saw His glory revealed in many other ways, in the Works He did, and the things He said. And so, in beholding the Lord Jesus Christ’s glory while He was on earth dwelling among us, the Apostle John could draw only one conclusion of Him, and that is He is full of grace and truth!
Vs. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”
The Apostle John now recalls John the Baptists testimony of Christ, for even he said, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” Therefore, though John the Baptist was revered by the people, (and still is some people’s eyes) he himself only revered and testified to the Lord Jesus Christ, never himself!
Vs. 16 “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace
for grace.”
Truly then everyone one of us who believe
in the Lord Jesus have received of His fullness, (for in Christ we are complete
lacking nothing for eternal salvation and or God’s purposes for our lives down
here). For it is His Holy Spirits power and gifts working in us and through us which
enables all of us to do and be all that He wants us to do and be. Now Johns
statement “grace for grace”, could be understood as “grace upon grace”, that is
we are perpetually dwelling in and receiving grace from God because of the Lord
Jesus Christs Righteousness and what He has done for us all! Vs. 17 “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
What a contrast then, for the law (which condemns all as sinners in the sight of God) was given through Moses; thus, salvation does not come through the law, nor through Moses; rather grace and truth comes through Jesus Christ. Notice the order, grace and truth, for though the law is truth there is no grace found in it, for to be guilty of one offense under it is to be guilty of all! Therefore, seeking salvation by one’s own righteousness according to the law will only result in one’s complete condemnation! for God will not accept anything less then sinless perfection according to the law for our souls redemption, and that we can only have by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Perfect and Sinless Lamb of God who fulfilled the law for us!
Vs. 18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
Here John declares that no one has seen God the Father, except His only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. The unique relationship then of Jesus Christ the Son to God the Father uniquely qualifies Him alone to declare Him, for He alone has seen and known Him.
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.
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