10 - Chapter 8 John 1:17

The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
God gave the Jews the law through Moses (John 7:19); and we know why: ‘The law
entered that the offence might abound’ (Rom. 5:20). But God has also sent grace into
the world by his Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:14; Tit. 2:11-14); and we know why: ‘But
where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even
so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord’ (Rom. 5:20-21). And what a contrast, law and grace! How wonderfully John
shines the spotlight on the contrast: ‘The law was given through Moses, but grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ’ (John 1:17)! The translators did not use the word but
for nothing in John 1:17. The apostle points to a very definite, clear, unmistakeable
contrast between law and grace.