For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17 ESV
Fullness of life, joy and satisfaction come only from Jesus. The law, given through Moses, was a religious system that existed primarily to make us aware of our sin and our own inability to live a righteous life. It basically showed the people that all men need God’s mercy, because no man is capable of meeting the righteous requirements of the law. So how do we obtain mercy?
Mercy is a free gift, given to us by Jesus. He met the requirements of the law on our behalf. His blood, shed for us, became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins! That’s why John referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God. We don’t deserve forgiveness, and apart from Christ, we can’t earn God’s favor, but because of what He did on our behalf, God accepts us. That’s what grace is all about! That’s the heart of the gospel message!
God illustrates this, through the first recorded miracle of Jesus.
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5 ESV
It was customary at Jewish weddings to provide enough wine to satisfy the guests throughout the celebration, and unless Jesus intervened, the wedding celebration in Cana was going to fall short. In our relationship with God, the religious system of the law, just like the wine at the wedding in Cana, always falls short. Religion, apart from Christ, is never enough!
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. John 2:6-8 ESV
Why did Jesus choose jars that were used for Jewish rites of purification? Perhaps, He did so to help them realize this miracle is an analogy to the law. The law, or any religious activity, for that matter, is never enough. We need the fullness of Christ! We require the grace and truth that comes through Him!
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” John 2:9-10 ESV
The law came first, but God saved the best for last! Satisfaction comes not through religion, but through a personal relationship with God, through Jesus. The wedding guests in Cana didn’t realize the best was yet to come, but they would have been extremely disappointed when the wine ran out. Everyone is at a different place in their own spiritual journey. Some have not yet realized what they are missing, while other’s have tried religion and all this world offers only to find it all fell short.
How about you? Have you experienced the fullness of Christ? Have you tasted His grace? Are you fully satisfied? God has saved the best for last, don’t miss it!