Reflections

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'”

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  John 1: 14-17

Grace has many definitions.  One way grace is defined is God’s unmerited favor and love of God that is freely given.  We find this in the above scriptures.  Jesus was given as a gift to man from God the Father.  Jesus came full of grace and truth.  God so loved us that He gave us His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; through Jesus we have received God’s unmerited favor and love.

Before Jesus we had the law.  The law was given to us by Moses.  It was impossible to earn God’s favor and love by observing the law.  Jesus fulfilled the law but Jesus did not come to teach us to exist only by the law.  Jesus came to give us grace so that we may experience the love of the Father.  It is also this grace that enables us to live according to God’s word and purpose for our lives.  God never intended for us to live apart from Him and His word; that is why we have Jesus – God’s gift of Grace.