14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In John 1:14-18, John finally reveals that the Word which he has been talking about who was with God and was God was made flesh. In this manner, he introduces the concept of the incarnation. That Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us. The word dwelt is skenoo which means he fixed his tabernacle among us or to dwell. The word tabernacle is important and brings to memory the tabernacle that was made in the Old Testament which was a tent or a temporary dwelling. In this case, it was also a temporary dwelling, but it was a body made of flesh. John says that this glory we beheld which was full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John goes on to say that John the Baptist gave a testimony about Jesus. The word "bare witness" is martyreo or one who gives testimony. John testified about two things here and in verse 30, that he had a higher rank than John and that he also existed before John. Even though, John's physical birth came first, John is referring to Jesus' eternal nature as a part of the Godhead. The idea of one who comes after me erchomai has in it the idea of someone who arises or enters the stage. By becoming incarnate, Jesus enters history and walks onto the stage of human life and reveals the nature of God to man. He reveals the "fulness" of God because he is the exact representation of who God is (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus said that the one who had seen him had seen the Father (John 14:9)
John goes on to mention the law and Moses in verse 17. While by Moses the law was created and revealed, by the person of Jesus grace and truth was revealed. Over and over again throughout scripture, it is clear that the law was imperfect and useless to save us from our sins. Romans 8:3 says that what the law could not do, the Father did by sending us His son as an offering for sin. The law is only a shadow (Heb 10:1) and the sacrifices the priest offers cannot save (Hebrews 10:11). By through the grace of God, the gift of God (which is the person of Jesus) results instead of condemnation in justification (Romans 5:15,20,21). So, now we can truly experience freedom from sin because there is now no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1).
In John 1:14-18, John finally reveals that the Word which he has been talking about who was with God and was God was made flesh. In this manner, he introduces the concept of the incarnation. That Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us. The word dwelt is skenoo which means he fixed his tabernacle among us or to dwell. The word tabernacle is important and brings to memory the tabernacle that was made in the Old Testament which was a tent or a temporary dwelling. In this case, it was also a temporary dwelling, but it was a body made of flesh. John says that this glory we beheld which was full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John goes on to say that John the Baptist gave a testimony about Jesus. The word "bare witness" is martyreo or one who gives testimony. John testified about two things here and in verse 30, that he had a higher rank than John and that he also existed before John. Even though, John's physical birth came first, John is referring to Jesus' eternal nature as a part of the Godhead. The idea of one who comes after me erchomai has in it the idea of someone who arises or enters the stage. By becoming incarnate, Jesus enters history and walks onto the stage of human life and reveals the nature of God to man. He reveals the "fulness" of God because he is the exact representation of who God is (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus said that the one who had seen him had seen the Father (John 14:9)
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John goes on to mention the law and Moses in verse 17. While by Moses the law was created and revealed, by the person of Jesus grace and truth was revealed. Over and over again throughout scripture, it is clear that the law was imperfect and useless to save us from our sins. Romans 8:3 says that what the law could not do, the Father did by sending us His son as an offering for sin. The law is only a shadow (Heb 10:1) and the sacrifices the priest offers cannot save (Hebrews 10:11). By through the grace of God, the gift of God (which is the person of Jesus) results instead of condemnation in justification (Romans 5:15,20,21). So, now we can truly experience freedom from sin because there is now no condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1).
