Contemplative Bible Reading

John 1:17 (New International Version)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

I hadn’t noticed this short verse of a dozen or so words before. This type of writing is called contrast or opposition. It shows one thing, then another.

Moses – a great and humble servant of God – brought the law to the people. A great law that held countless benefits to the people in their spiritual and physical lives if they obeyed it. One problem is that the people couldn’t quite obey it. Sure, part of that was willful disobedience, but part was human frailty.

Then in contrast are grace and truth. These were brought by Jesus, the son of God, the Word, the Light. If we walk with Jesus we have salvation. We don’t have to be perfect to walk with Jesus. We just have to choose to walk with Him and then do it. Jesus accepts us with our frailty. His grace erases our imperfections in His sight.

I don’t think about that grace often. It gives me a headache, a wonderful, dizzying headache that gives peace to my heart. I get a headache because as hard as I try I cannot really understand that grace.

God, despite my limited brains, I think that I understand a little of this grace idea. I understand enough to thank you for it. Help me better to show it to others.