JOHN 1:14-18 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
THEME OF THE DAY. OUT OF HIS FULLNESS IS OUR SUFFICIENCY. Perhaps the best known Bible verse among people, even unbelieving people, is John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. It is the whole Bible in one verse. It reveals the heart of God, the love of God, the giving of God, the promises of God, the provision of God, and the simple truth of what pleases God – faith in His Son. Yet, I think we need to sit back, and that quite often, and realize just what God has provided when He gave us Jesus. Yes, everlasting life, but doesn’t that seem “way out there” in the future that we really cannot grasp? Heaven? Awesome, but, again, future. What about now when we are struggling with the issues, challenges, and difficulties in life? We need help now, and God comes to our rescue in the Lord Jesus, and particularly, out of the fullness of His grace. Let’s think on Jesus along those lines, not just giving us heaven, but being enough in this life. Here are two applications applying to all of us.
First, out of the fullness of Christ’s grace we find sufficient help when we are afraid – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3). In this account, the disciples were paralyzed with fear. Jesus was leaving them and they could not follow. But the Lord comes with sufficient grace calming their fears with the truths of His Promise and Presence in a not too distant future.
Next, out of the fullness of Christ’s grace we find sufficient help in life’s many seasons of sorrow and grief. We see the fullness of Christ’s grace healing hurting hearts at the funeral of Lazarus – Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (John 11:17-27). Sadness turned to joy and hope out of the fullness of Christ’s all sufficient grace And as it was for these grieving folks, so it will be for us!
Believer, God has given us all we need in Christ – now and for eternity. May He help us to daily live out life in the fullness of His all sufficient grace.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for giving me all I need in Christ, and forgive me in those times I don’t live like He is.”
QUOTE: “Out of the fullness of Christ’s grace and truth is all we will ever need now and for eternity.”