John 1:10-18
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
“… 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. …”
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy, love never ending. That is the message we hear from today’s Gospel. Our true love – the One who loves us most – bestows upon His children the gift of unmerited, unearned, eternal love.
Jesus comes to reveal that love in a real and personal way. The Word made flesh dwells among us to show forth the magnitude of God’s love. Healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, unstopping ears, and raising the dead are all examples of that wondrous, abiding love. However, the greatness of that love is expressed most fully on the cross. There, the One who comes in human form dies a horrible death for us. We are saved by His grace.
Hence, both the mystery and majesty of God’s presence in our world is manifested. Jesus, who comes in the flesh to dwell among us is also the One who gives up that flesh that we might have eternal life. Truly, that is grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy, and love never ending.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have come to reveal the depth and power of God’s love. Thank You for Your grace upon grace. May I live within that grace today and always. Amen.