sermonsonjohn

John 1:10-13

1. The Word: In the world...(v.10)
Perhaps by now we're getting used to John's style, how he introduces a term and then repeats it and develops his thought concerning it. The same thing is happening here with the term 'world' and the Word's relationship to it.

'The world' for John almost always has negative overtones, because it is his way of referring to mankind in rebellion against God, to the whole system of opposition to him. In v.10 John mentions 'the world' 3 times. He drives home his point!

What is his point? In verse 9, we were told that 'The true light...was coming into the world'. Now John develops that and tells us that 'He was in the world'. He came into the world but not just for a brief visit. He stayed. The Word, the eternal, creative Word of God, was in this world! It is a staggering thought and one that's developed as the Prologue continues.

Why was he 'in the world'? Why did he come? He came because he cares. This whole gospel is going to be taken up with that thought and the great plan and purpose of God in coming.

The world is a real mess and we deserve all we get because we're the cause of the mess. But God, in his great mercy, has come into the world because he cares for us. People often ask 'Where is God? Doesn't he care?'. That question has been laid to rest in the coming of Jesus into this world.

2. The Word: Rejected (vv.10,11)
He was in the world - staggering thought! - but what kind of response did he get?

i) The world did not know him - This world that was made by him and for him simply did not know him and didn't want to know him.

The thought here is not a bare recognition of him, like we might recognise someone in town. It is dealing with a failure to know him intimately, to know and love him as a friend. This is why he came but he wasn't known, he wasn't embraced.

ii) But bad as it was for Jesus to be in the world and for the world not to know him, John goes further: "He came to that which was his own and his own did not receive him".

John is saying here that Jesus came home and was not received. He came to people of Israel, God's special people, a people amazingly privileged, and they refused to receive him.

John is taking us further here. Not only was he not known in his world, he was rejected by his very own people. In a sense, the whole world is his home because he made it. But John's point is this: the Jews were a people God had made ready for the Word to come to. And they did not receive him.

For many years, and in many ways, God had spoken to them and prepared them: through law, prophecy and wisdom; by his deeds of deliverance, judgement and mercy. And now he comes in person but they refuse to receive him.

As you read through this gospel, this point is seen over and again, as Jesus is opposed by the Jewish leaders and rejected by them and, in large measure, by the people too.

This rejection of the Creator by his creatures and of the Redeemer by his people shows to us just how deep the darkness is, just how sinful sin is. And nothing has changed in 2000 years. Still he is rejected, not known, not received.

In some ways, our own nation has been specially blessed in terms of its heritage and yet that is being thrown overboard and Jesus with it. This is so sad but it should not surprise us. Men's hearts are dark, blinded by Satan, and their minds foolish.

3. The Word: Received (vv.12,13)
But that isn't the whole picture. John goes on to tell us that while many rejected him, there were some who received him, some who believed in his name.

And that's the way to respond to him: to welcome him and to trust him, to turn to him for mercy and grace, to commit yourself to him.

It happened in Jesus lifetime: in this gospel, we can read about the woman at the well, about Lazarus, Martha and Mary and many others. In the deep gloom, there were bright spots as people trusted in the Saviour. And it happens today too.

Now, John describes for us what happens to those who receive Jesus, who believe in his name: they are all given the right to become God's children. Notice a number of things about this:

i) It is for all who believe - this is a great emphasis in John's gospel (cf. 6:37). Whoever believes, whether Jew or non-Jew, male or female, rich or poor - whoever believes in Jesus is saved.

ii) Those who believe are given the right to be God's children. That is true for them as individuals. They are welcomed into a new family, the family of God. Up until that point, they have been in Satan's family, lost and dead in sin. But now, as they trust in Jesus and commit themselves unreservedly to him, they are welcomed into the family of God. They are given a whole new life.

iii) It is also true of them collectively: those who believe now constitute the true people of God, the true Israel of God.

But how does all this happen? How are they given this new life? How does this adoption into God's family come about?

John tells us firstly how it doesn't happen and then how it does. It doesn't come about, he says, by man's efforts. It isn't through natural descent. The Jews put great store by their heritage but that wasn't enough, as Jesus explained to them.

Nor does it take place by human decision or by a husband's will. As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, flesh only gives birth to flesh. So how can they be given a place in the family of God? How can they be given a whole new life, a new birth, a spiritual resurrection?

The answer is that is it God's work, from start to finish. The Spirit gives birth to spirit. For anyone to be given a place in God's family it needs the powerful, gracious work of God by his Holy Spirit. Those who are in God's family are there because they have been born of God. The credit is all his!

Where do you stand on all this? You've heard about Jesus - have you received him or rejected him? Those who receive him are welcomed into his family, made new by his Spirit, given the most amazing privileges. But it is only they. Those who reject him will be condemned and lost. Which will it be for you?

posted by minternational @ 2:40 AM