John 1:15-18

Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.

John 1:15-18

1. We are taught that it is Christ alone who supplies al the spiritual wants of all believers.
2. We are taught the vast superiority of Christ to Moses, and of the gospel to the law.
3. We are taught that it is Christ alone who has revealed God the Father to us.

"The Old Testament believers only saw Christ afar off and not face to face. But from Abel downwards all saved souls have received all they have had from Jesus Christ alone."

"No doubt there was much of grace and truth under the law of Moses, but the whole of God's grace and the whole of God's truth about redemption were never known until Jesus came into the world and died for sinners."

"[The Father's] perfect wisdom, His almighty power, His unspeakable love to sinners, His incomparable holiness, His hatred of sin, could never be represented to our eyes more clearly than we see them in Christ's life and death."

Questions:

1. It is an incredible truth, that all blessings in all ages have come through Jesus Christ. How could we turn to anyone or anything else than Jesus? Doesn't this cause your heart to praise Him?
2. It is easy, at surface level, to see these verses and think that the law of Moses did not bring grace and truth. Ryle, rightly, declares that the law did bring grace and truth, but Jesus brings the whole of grace and truth in His death and resurrection. Does this surprise or correct how you have seen this?
3. Ryle asks, in light of the rich truths in these verses, the question: can we give too much honor to Christ or think too highly of Him? Jesus Christ is making His Father known, and there is no other way to know the Father, except through Him. May we learn to exalt Him more in our hearts and to rest more confidingly the whole weight of our souls in His hands.