God’s Grace and Mercy (John 1: 1-18)
12:00 AM
Please read John 1: 1-18
What a wonderful week we have had studying about His
Grace and Mercy, as we prepare our hearts for Easter.
Today as we read John 1, it brought to my memory how
difficult it was for me to realize that I had to stop trying to earn God’s
favor through works and that the traditions which were the foundation of my
faith were worthless. That I was dead in my sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1-5)
and only through Jesus I would be saved!
In some way I can understand why the Jews of those days
reacted in disbelief when John the Baptist testified about the “True Light
which was coming into the world (1:9):
“10 He (Christ) was in the world, and
though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11 He
came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His
creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish
nation] did not receive and welcome
Him.
Their religious pride and their judging by the Law
made it difficult for them to grasp this Truth.
“12 But to as many as did receive and welcome
Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of
God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and
rely on) His name—“
“Only BELIEVE in Jesus
and RECEIVE HIM in your heart, asking His forgiveness, for He paid the penalty
of your sins on the Cross (Col. 2:13-14)”, I was told.
This was the first time I
had heard this! What kind of religion was this? But there was this deep thirst inside
of me that longed for Him and needed to BELIEVE!
“Faith is
described as ‘receiving’ Jesus. It is the empty cup placed under the flowing
stream; the penniless hand held out for heavenly alms.” (Spurgeon)
Yes, I needed Jesus to
transform my life, I needed to embrace His Truth and receive
Him as my Lord and Savior. I learned that, “As many as received Him” is
just another way to say “those who believe in His name”.
“Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this
one word, grace; we have received "even grace," a gift so great, so
rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in
us.” M. Henry
John 1:13 emphasizes this new birth, as those: “13 who
were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh
[physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of
God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually
transformed, renewed, sanctified].
It refers to
the children of God as those “who were
born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of
God.” God causes the new birth; we don’t. We are not only transformed, but
now become His children! Peter stresses
this same thing:
” Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that
is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for
His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3)
In John 1:14 we read: “ 14 And
the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His
glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of
the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is]
full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).
“Beloved, notice here that both these qualities in our
Lord are at the full. He is ‘full of grace.’ Who could be more so? In the
person of Jesus Christ the immeasurable grace of God is treasured up.” (C. Spurgeon)
Verse 16
describes the fullness of grace announced by John the Baptist and brought by
Jesus Christ. God the Word, Jesus Christ, brought a different order than the
one instituted by Moses.
“16 For
out of His 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]. 17 For the Law was given through Moses,
but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus
Christ. (John 1:16-17)
Grace for
grace: “Literally it means ‘grace instead of grace’. Clearly John intends to
put some emphasis on the thought of grace. Probably also he means that as one
piece of divine grace (so to speak) recedes it is replaced by another. God’s
grace to His people is continuous and is never exhausted. Grace
knows no interruption and no limit.” (Morris)
Our God in His great Mercy delivered us through
Christ, from the misery and punishment of our sins, AND gave us in return “grace
upon grace” ! Isn’t it amazing to know that this Grace, His Grace is never
ending? Sadly there are many around us who have rejected His Word and His Saving
Grace. Let us continue to intercede for them in prayer, and most of all to love
them as He loves them!
O what Amazing Grace we have found in Him!!
Mari
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