And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. John 1:16

Explanation

I love this testimony of John.  I believe that John is speaking of “fulness” here directly from the comment he had just made about the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. He said that Jesus Christ was full of “grace and truth”.

If it is of this fullness that they received, then that means they were given truth by Christ. This is quite the understatement. Jesus taught better than anyone ever has. He was a master teacher. In one episode in the Gospels it says this about his teaching.

[28] And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: [29] For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28-29

Jesus Himself said famously,

[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

Hebrews begins by speaking of this true and powerful revelation of who God is in the person of Jesus Christ.

[1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [4] Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 1:1-4

Not only was He full of truth they received. He was full of grace, and distributed grace to them by John’s testimony here. He says “and grace for grace”. This is a statement of multiplied grace. When you think about grace as receiving something that one does not deserve, then think through everything that Jesus brought to us that we did not deserve. This is John’s testimony, that grace was and is multiplied out to mankind through the person of Jesus Christ.

Application

We have certainly received the truth from Jesus, and we have received the truth as Jesus. He didn’t just give us truth. He is the truth. He reveals the truth. By Him we are able to know truth. This is not an exaggeration. To properly understand anything with full accuracy, we must believe in Jesus. He is the truth.

We have certainly received grace from Jesus. The common, universal grace of creation came by Him, through Him and for Him. Anything good we received came from Him. It truly is grace upon grace. The purpose of John’s Gospel is that we would know saving grace from Jesus. It’s not enough to know about Him. He must be believed and received. 

Response

1. How are your thoughts today? Are you believing what is true about Jesus and what His Word teaches? Are you believing any lies?
2. As you receive grace from Christ, are you reflecting that grace to others? Those who have received grace must themselves be gracious. 
3. Who are you telling the truth about Jesus and the grace that is available through Him?