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." (John 1:14-18 ESV)


The Word Became Flesh

In this passage, the Apostle John declares one of the most profound truths of the Christian faith: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (v. 14). The eternal Word of God, Jesus Christ, took on human nature and lived among humanity. This is the mystery of the Incarnation—God entering the world in the person of Jesus to redeem humanity. The Greek word for "dwelt" here literally means "tabernacled" or "pitched His tent," evoking imagery from the Old Testament when God's presence dwelled among His people in the Tabernacle.

In Christ, God's glory is made visible to us. John testifies, "we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (v. 14). Jesus perfectly reveals the glory of God because He is the very image of the Father. This glory is not a distant, untouchable reality, but one that came near in the person of Jesus, bringing both grace and truth to a broken world. His glory is full of grace—the unmerited favor of God—and full of truth—the perfect revelation of God's nature and His plan of salvation.

Scriptures to Study:

Isaiah 7:14, Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 2:14-18


Grace Upon Grace

John continues to unpack the implications of Christ’s coming: "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (v. 16). This phrase speaks of the continual, overflowing nature of God’s grace given through Jesus. It is a never-ending supply—one grace following another—providing all we need for life, salvation, and spiritual growth. This stands in contrast to the law, which was given through Moses. The law revealed God’s standard of holiness but also exposed humanity’s inability to keep it. Jesus, however, brings grace and truth that transform and empower us to live according to God’s will.

The "fullness" of Christ refers to the totality of who He is—His divine nature, His power, His love, and His truth. We receive the fullness of God's grace in Jesus, and it is by this grace that we are saved and sustained. The law points out our sin and need for a Savior, but Jesus fulfills the law and offers grace that leads to life and righteousness. His grace doesn't leave us in sin but enables us to live as children of God, filled with His Spirit and led by His Word.

Scriptures to Study:

Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 1:7-8, Titus 2:11-14, 2 Peter 1:2-4


Jesus Reveals the Father

John concludes this section by stating, "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known" (v. 18). In the Old Testament, God’s presence was often veiled or indirect—He spoke through prophets, appeared in visions, or dwelled in the Tabernacle. But in Jesus, God is fully revealed. Jesus, being "at the Father’s side" or "in the bosom of the Father" (a term of intimate relationship), makes the invisible God visible to us. To know Jesus is to know the Father (John 14:9). He is the perfect revelation of who God is, showing us God’s heart, character, and will.

This truth has deep significance for our discipleship. Jesus is not just a messenger of God—He is God, and He came to make the Father known in a way that we could see, understand, and relate to. Through the Word of God and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we come to know the Father more deeply by knowing Jesus. Our relationship with God is no longer distant or mediated through the law; we can approach God directly through Christ, who reveals the Father's grace, truth, and love to us.

Scriptures to Study:

John 14:6-9, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:1-3, 1 John 5:20


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