Some reference this verse to make the case that Jesus brought grace so therefore God’s people no longer need to obey some of God’s commandments.

I chose the King James translation because it adds the word ‘but’ in the middle, suggesting a contrast is being drawn between law and grace. However, when we check the Greek text, we find the word ‘but’ is not there. Most other English translations do not add the word ‘but’.

To understand what John is saying, we need to go back to the book of Exodus and a moment on Mount Sinai. Dr. Craig Keener explains.

“John probably alludes to one story in particular, the account of when Moses went up to receive the law the second time in Exodus 33 and 34.  Israel had broken the covenant and God had judged them; now he gives Moses the law again but does not wish to “dwell” with Israel.  Moses pleads with God to dwell with them, and then pleads with God to show him his glory.  “No one can see my full glory,” God told him, “but I will show you part of my glory, and make my goodness pass before you.”

As God passed before Moses, Moses witnessed an astounding spectacle of glory; but especially God revealed his “goodness,” his holy character, to Moses.  As he passed before Moses, he described himself as “abounding in covenant love and covenant faithfulness,” which could be translated, “full of grace and truth.”  And after God was finished revealing his character, Moses protested, “God, if that is the way you are, then please forgive us and dwell with us.”  And God promised to do so.”

When we look a few verses earlier in John 1, we find numerous ideas that connect Jesus to the one who passed by Moses on the mountain; glory, goodness, grace, no man can see God, the word, forgive sin, inheritance as children of God, go in the midst of us, truth, light shining.

Let’s look at some verses from Exodus 33 and 34 to see concepts referenced by John 1.

“Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” (Exodus 33:18-20)

“The LORD said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” (Exodus 34:1)

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7 KJV)

“And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” (Exodus 34:9)

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.” (Exodus 34:29-30)

“Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” (Exodus 34:34-35)

Now let’s look at John 1.

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5 connects to Exodus 34:29-30 and Exodus 34:34-35)

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” (John 1:11-12 connects to Exodus 34:9)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:14-18 connects to Exodus 33:18-20, Exodus 34:1 and Exodus 34:6-7)

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 connects to Exodus 34:6-7 and Exodus 34:9)

“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”” (John 1:45-46 connects to goodness in Exodus 33:18-20 and Exodus 34:6-7)

Here’s a table version.

“Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)	“and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14)
“And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you” (Exodus 33:19) “abundant in goodness” (Exodus 34:6 KJV)	“Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
“I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious” (Exodus 33:19) “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious,” (Exodus 34:6 KJV)	“and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)
“But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20)	“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18)
“I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets” (Exodus 34:1)	“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) “For the law was given through Moses” (John 1:17)
“abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6 KJV)	“we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:7) “and pardon our iniquity and our sin” (Exodus 34:9)	“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
“O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us” (Exodus 34:9)	“He came to his own” (John 1:11)
“and take us for your inheritance.” (Exodus 34:9)	“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” (John 1:12)
“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone” (Exodus 34:29-30) “the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining.” (Exodus 34:35)	“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

In John 1:17-18, John is talking about seeing the very essence of God’s glory and character in Jesus. Jesus is how we see the glory of the one who passed by Moses.