Grace Upon Grace

John 1:1-18

His grace upon grace--
Inundated with His grace --
Overflowing gift.

For from his fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. (John 1:16 ESV)

The phrase “grace upon grace” from John 1:16 captures the essence of God’s immeasurable blessings poured out through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He pitched His tent among us, taking on flesh, becoming human. As the Apostle Paul writes,

--He made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself-- (Philippians 2:7-8)

It speaks of an unending, layered supply of God’s favor—each gift of grace followed by yet another.

Our community group just began studying the Gospel of John. Last week, we discussed the poetic prologue, which always inspires awe. The first 18 verses reveal Jesus’ divine nature and mission, highlighting three specific ideas that illuminate this truth: Jesus as the Eternal Word, the True Light, and the Son of God. Through these roles, Jesus embodies God’s redemptive plan, offering our world transformative grace.

Jesus as the Eternal Word

John begins by declaring, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). This profound statement reveals Jesus as the eternal, creative force of the universe. All things were made through Him; apart from Him, nothing came into being (John 1:3). In Him is life, the source of all existence—both physical and spiritual.

This foundational truth reflects the first layer of grace: God’s provision of life and order in a chaotic world. Just as God spoke light into darkness in Genesis 1:1-3, Jesus, the Word, continues to bring light and life. Hebrews 1:3 affirms this by stating that Jesus sustains all things by His powerful Word. His sustaining presence is grace in action—a reminder that every breath and every moment of creation is a gift.

Jesus as the True Light

“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). Jesus is the True Light, guiding humanity out of spiritual darkness. This reminds me of the "exodus" ... God rescuing His people from slavery and delivering them to the Promised land! Or as Paul writes to the Colossians:

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

The grace of this light is transformative. It dispels ignorance and sin, allowing us to fellowship with God. Isaiah 9:2 foretells this grace: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.”

In 1 John 1:7, we are reminded that walking in the light leads to fellowship and the cleansing power of Christ’s blood. This grace invites us to step out of the shadows and into the fullness of God’s truth.

Jesus as the Son of God

John’s prologue crescendos with the incarnation: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Through the incarnation, Jesus fully reveals God’s nature and offers redemption to humanity.

This grace is twofold. First, it brings salvation. Galatians 4:4-6 reminds us that God sent His Son to redeem us, making us His children and heirs.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Second, it brings sanctification, enabling us to grow in holiness. Ephesians 1:3-14 speaks of every spiritual blessing we receive through Christ, including forgiveness, adoption, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. These blessings flow in an unbroken stream, one grace leading to another.

Conclusion

The phrase “grace upon grace” reminds us of God’s overflowing blessings through Jesus. As the Eternal Word, He creates and sustains; as the True Light, He reveals and redeems; and as the Son of God, He adopts and sanctifies. These layers of grace draw us deeper into the heart of God’s love.

May we live in gratitude, reflecting on and sharing this unending grace with the world.