for of his fulness we all have received, and grace upon grace.
John has just called the Word full of grace and truth, and verse 16 says that His fulness has reached us. That raises three plain questions: what is this "fulness," who does "all" cover, and what does grace upon grace mean?
What "His fulness" Holds
The fulness is not a store of blessings kept apart from Christ. One writer points to the Person Himself as the whole supply.
The straight line of truth runs: "full of grace and truth … and from His fulness we have all received, grace upon grace" (verse 16). What an astonishing truth! He is the gift and the giver — full of grace and truth. From His fulness we all received. That is what even the least believer has. The strongest is only stronger because he values Him better. There is no blessing outside Him, and so no lack for the soul that has Jesus. If anyone tries to add anything else to the Lord, it is a real loss, not a gain. It only adds what takes away from Him. For Christ is all, and in all.
How far does that supply reach? As far as human need goes.
It is the endless sea of divine grace flowing in on the shore of human need, wave after wave, filling every inlet and creek and cave. All it looks for is room for its blessing. It is the fulness of the Godhead brought down to us in Jesus. It pleased the Father that all fulness should live in Him. That fulness lived in Him, and still lives in Him for you… You have no need that He cannot meet. There is no crack in your heart that He cannot fill.
Receiving Him, Not Just Facts About Him
Another writer sets receiving Christ Himself against being content with correct statements about Him.
This is the second place where the blessings and privileges of the saints are named. In verse 13 the blessing given to all believers was the place of children of God. Here it is that we have all received from His fulness. That is the necessary and blessed effect of receiving Christ Himself. Many seem content instead with receiving some doctrinal statement about Him. Receiving Himself is a very different thing. With Himself we receive all that He is. His wisdom, riches, honours and powers are all ours. We see with His eyes, understand with His heart, feel with His affections.
"All" — No Sliding Scale
The word "all" leaves no room for favourites or rankings. It also sets this gift against the older system that came through Moses.
The grace was so rich, so plainly divine. It was not that some souls deserved more than the rest and were rewarded on a rising scale of honour. No: from His fulness we have all received. Nothing could contrast more sharply with the system of government God had set up, which people had known in earlier times. Here there could not be more, and He would not give less… The law that Moses gave was no giver in itself; it was a demander. Jesus, full of grace and truth, gave, instead of requiring or receiving.
"Grace upon Grace" — Grace Piled on Grace
Older translations read "grace for grace." Commentators take it as grace stacked on grace, one supply landing on top of the last.
"And from His fulness we have all received, grace upon grace" — it really means grace heaped upon grace. When one grace was given, another came on top of it. Divine favour was in the world in all its fulness, and truth about everything… As believers we have all received an abundance of grace from Christ's fulness. Here it is what is in Himself.
Another writer reaches for the sea to picture the supply.
The picture here is the ocean — the fulness, the love, the power, the wisdom and grace that is in Christ. From that fulness, that ocean of God's resources in Christ, we have received grace upon grace. Before the effect of one wave has passed away, another has taken its place. That is what God has in mind for us.
Grace Traced Through the Gospel
The chapters that follow show that grace meeting one person after another.
In John 2, we see grace shown at the wedding feast. In John 3, as dealing with Nicodemus. In John 4, meeting the woman at the well. In John 5, with the man at the pool. In John 6, feeding the crowds. In John 8, with the woman in the temple. In John 9, opening the eyes of the blind man. In John 11, raising Lazarus and dealing with his sisters. Put them all together, and we can truly say, "From His fulness we have all received, grace upon grace."
Summary
- Source — the fulness is in Christ Himself. He is the gift and the giver. Nothing can be added to Him, and nothing is missing for the one who has Him.
- Share — the word "all" rules out any scale of merit. There could not be more, and He would not give less.
- Measure — grace upon grace means grace heaped on grace. One wave arrives before the last has spent itself.
- Manner — the fulness comes by receiving a Person, not by collecting statements about Him. With Himself we receive all that He is.
- Contrast — the law only demanded. Jesus gives instead of requiring, wave after wave, right through John's Gospel.