1:6-13 The Witness of John

Passage: John 1:6-13 (BSB)

6 There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John.

7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.

8 He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9 The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

13 children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

Context

• Where this fits in the book: John just introduced Jesus as the Word and the Light.

Observation

What does the passage actually say? Read it 2-3 times before moving on.

John was sent from God.

John's ministry was to testify about the Light (Jesus), through whom all things were created.

The Light (Jesus) came to His own people, who should have been expecting Him, and they did not receive Him.

Some did receive Him, and He gave them the right to be adopted as children of God.

Receiving Jesus means believing in His name. It is not an act of the will, but an act of God.

To believe in Jesus's name is to be born of God.

Interpretation

What did this mean to the original audience? What is the author's main point?

John the Baptist was sent by God to be a witness to the identity of Jesus. God said that He would send a messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah, and John was that messenger. God revealed His plan ahead of time so that we would know it was from Him when it happened. The people who should have known that plan the best are the ones who rejected it when it happened.

Jesus is the Light through whom all things were created, and who gives life to all living things.

The people who should have known Jesus the best and should have been expecting Him are the ones who rejected Him.

People who do receive Jesus and believe in His name become children of God. It's not the result of human will, but by spiritual rebirth, which is an act of God.

Application

What does this mean for me, today?

Jesus came to give eternal life to anyone who believes in Him. Believing in Jesus comes with being spiritually reborn by an act of God. Believing in the name of Jesus is how God saves us.

The name Jesus means "Yahweh saves" or "God is salvation."

When we believe in Jesus, we believe that God saves, and the He is our salvation. Moreover we believe that God came as a man - Jesus, took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross, was buried in a tomb, rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended to heaven where He sits on the throne.

Prayer

Turn what you learned into a prayer.

Dear God, I receive You. I believe in Jesus - in the name of Jesus. I believe that you saved me from my sins, and that I am forgiven through your sacrifice. I love you, and I thank you for having mercy on me. I am yours Lord. Thank you Jesus for dying for me, and for having victory over sin and death for me. You are my King! In your name I pray. Amen.

Cross-References

Notes / Questions

Anything unresolved to study further or ask someone about.

Resources

Links to online sources of information or bibliography of useful books.