Grace upon grace – 15th November 2006

 

 

 

The source of God’s love and grace is Jesus himself. In the wonderful opening words of John’s gospel, the writer clearly identifies Jesus as the source, the wellspring, the one from whom grace literally pours out.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  John 1:14-17

One blessing after another…

 

I remember this verse from my study of the Greek New Testament. It is hard to translate because it means, “grace on top of grace.” It is not unlike the picture of the waves coming crashing upon the shore. No sooner has one wave landed than another lands on top of it. Or perhaps we might picture a waterfall and see the water just continually pouring out continually, coming from the source somewhere upstream and literally cascading down.

This is a picture of the ever-flowing continual blessing which we call grace. Jesus is the source where the flow begins. And the cross of Jesus is the point of release, the waterfall point if you like.

So just imagine yourself now standing at the edge of a waterfall. What would it feel like to step under the flow of water? Are you frightened, excited, nervous? Imagine yourself stepping into the water, just as you are and feel the water begin to cascade over your head and shoulders and body. Soon you are drenched from head to toe. You feel clean, refreshed, invigorated.

With that picture in your mind, pray and ask for God to literally pour out his amazing grace upon you. The amazing thing is that this is a prayer that He loves to answer