John 1:17 (ESV)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Reflecting on the deep theological basis for this interesting little verse, evangelist D.L. Moody observed, “The Law begins with commands and ends with blessings; but the blessings are fruit upon lofty branches, which fallen man can never reach. He cannot and will not climb the tree. The Gospel, on the contrary, begins with promises, and promises give birth to precepts. The Law demands justice; the Gospel delights in mercy through satisfied justice. Moses blesses the law-doer; Jesus pardons the guilty and saves the lost.”

Which path do you prefer?

This passage in no way contradicts the Law given by Moses in the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), but reveals the ultimate purpose for the entire Old Testament Law—pointing to the Logos, the Messiah. “You search the Scriptures (in context this refers to the OT, including the Torah) because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me” (Jn. 5:39). A few verses later (Jn. 5:45), Jesus lays the act of accusing people in Moses’ hands as the bearer of the Law, but also points out the futility of trying to ascend into heaven by keeping a law that no man can fully satisfy. The Law is not a stairway to Heaven…it’s a death sentence. Moses and the Law highlight the problem. The Old Testament points to the ultimate solution. Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29).

Law. Grace. Truth.

The Old Testament Law could not provide grace—and Jesus is the ultimate culmination of the truth. He did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it completely on our behalf (Mth. 5:17). This is the only bridge on which any human can traverse the gap between law and grace. Condemnation or forgiveness. Life or death. Or as C.S. Lewis put it, “Immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

One final note.

As Christians, sometimes we act more like agents of Moses than ambassadors of Christ. We emphasize truth as a way to point out the ills of the world (or our neighbor) while leaving grace in the background or presented as an afterthought. Perhaps this is why the great evangelist Billy Graham shifted to more and more New Testament verses in his later years than Old Testament verses. Additionally, he would say, “God loves you!” over and over again, especially in light of the Law and our guilt before it. A truth-less Gospel is no Gospel at all…but a Gospel not saturated in the love and grace of Jesus Christ is even worse.