"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." -- John 1:17

What does this scripture NOT say? It does not say that grace and truth came from Jesus Christ, though doubtless in a sense, it does.

John 1:3 tells us that Jesus made all things, and "without him nothing was made that has been made."

But, Grace and Truth were not "made," i.e., "created."

This tells us two things about grace and truth: [1] Since they were not "created" or "things," it is reasonable to assume that like God himself, grace and truth have existed forever. [2] Grace apparently comes from the Father through his Son and then through the Holy Spirit. As the Law came through [dia] Moses, so grace and truth came through [dia] Jesus Christ.

This isn't to suggest the Moses was some kind of “archtype” of Jesus. He most certainly was not. Moses was a sinful man to whom God gave the Law. Jesus Christ was a sinless God/man through whom God extends his grace and truth.

The relevance of this distinction is that grace and truth, like love, holiness, and justice, are part of the essential character of God. Taken in their absolute sense, they define God as God.

When God extends his love, when God extends his grace and truth, he is extending himself. Grace and Truth are a part of the holy intimacy we enjoy in relationship with him.

Jesus is our point of contact with God. He became human. Since this is true, we identify ourselves with his humanness. He is our Lord and Master, our God. When the Father reaches out to us, it is the touch of Jesus that we feel. When we are cleansed of sin, it is the blood of Jesus that makes us clean. When we are guided by truth, we are reminded that he is the Truth. When grace enables us, when grace provides our acceptance with the Father, when grace is our gift, our blessing, our portion, it is the grace that comes from the Father through Jesus Christ.

In short, in Grace and Truth, God has given us Himself through his Son, Jesus Christ.