Grace and Truth

The opening verses of John’s Gospel are very different from those of the three other biographies of Jesus recorded in the New Testament. After his opening statements that mirror the beginning of Genesis, including helping the reader understand Christ’s purpose in coming to earth, John proceeds to describe what characterizedJesus’ ministry on earth.

The juxtaposition of grace and truth is found in several other places in Scripture, but John 1 contains two verses which explicitly describe Jesus’ in this way (v.14 and v.17). What is the significance of that phrase? I believe it points to the way in which God operates in the world and how Christians should conduct their lives today.

It appears that modern society desires to function in either one or the other of those realms – grace or truth. The divided Western world we live in has become convinced that either it’s inconsiderate to speak truth when a person’s actions violate God’s law or it’s soft to not vehemently condemn that same behavior. There appears to be no middle ground, at least in the media or online comment world.

What does it look like for a Christian to live in a way that is characterized by grace and truth? I appreciate the way in which one author points out the issues with emphasizing one over the other.

“An emphasis on grace alone can dissipate into a shallow and sentimental foundation where justice or truth is discarded. However, a focus only on truth can devolve into a cold, hardened dogma. Jesus’ character demonstrates the perfect balance of both grace and truth. He is “full” of both.”

Let’s look at one example of this balance. In John 4 we read of a conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. Now this interaction has multiple complex layers to it, as do the words Jesus uses, but essentially it shows Jesus pointing out the woman’s multiple past failed relationships while offering hope for the future. After asking the woman to draw water from a well for him, and the surprise she expressed at the request, Jesus says in John 4:10, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

How would you need to change your behavior in order to be described in those terms – full of grace and truth? Notice the word “full.” It suggests a constant striving to find the right balance in this regard, not a one-off or occasional burst of balance. That’s how Jesus lived his life on earth and that is precisely how God sovereignly governs the universe today.

Oh God, I desire to be more like you each day. Give me a heart of compassion for those who are hurting because of poor choices while also helping them see the consequences of those choices.¹

Throughout this day: Read John 4:1-26 and consider how you could emulate Jesus’ behavior in your life today.

¹ “What is the relationship between grace and truth?” https://www.gotquestions.org/grace-and-truth.html, February 11, 2026.