The Real Light Entered the World

Introduction:

John has already introduced darkness in the world in Jn. 1:5.

Included in that statement is the thought of rejection.

Among other topics we will explore this evening, the scale or depth of that darkness will come out.

We might stop for a moment and reflect on two things:

John’s own words that mirror those of the Gospel writer’s.

Compare Jn. 1:8 with John 1:19-20.

God’s grace toward humanity.

The witness of John was needed.

We might ask ourselves…why?

This is especially relevant in light of Jn. 1:5.

The Real Light Came

John returns to the light.

We now see a contrast between Jn. 1:8 and Jn. 1:9.

The thoughts from Jn. 1:4 now become relevant again for understanding the terminology and mode of thought.

John employs a periphrastic construction to make a historical claim.

The true light, the one responsible for illuminating every man, was coming into the world.

The light entered the domain where he had bestowed life upon man.

John’s first use of the word τὸν κόσμον.

It will feature prominently for example in Jn. 3:16.

John means more than the light came into the physical creation. Instead, the world refers to the domain of human beings. The ordered system of human beings living in the world.

Three Historical Facts

John now returns to short bursts of reality.

He, the light, the Logos, was in the world.

John is already making a historical claim about the incarnation of the Son of God.

The world came to be through him.

Notice, yet again, the clarification that the light could be in the world, but he was not part of the world.

The world came to be through him.

The world did not know him.

Now we understand the depth of darkness.

Now we know why God is gracious to give the witness of John.

Now we can appreciate that the rejection of the Messiah was in spite of the evidence not for lack of it.

Jn. 5:31-39

This explains why so much emphasis upon the blindness of Jesus’ generation.

Jn. 9:39-41.

Part 2: Introduction

Our world is confused about the message of Christianity.

We need clarity.

God, through His Word, has provided clarity.

In spite of the darkness of the world, not everyone is blind to the reality of Jesus’ person.

In this message we will learn about being born again.

Let us think about Jn 3, 1 Peter 1, Titus 3.

What begins as a negative assessment of the world’s blindness will end with something unexpectedly positive.

Receiving him = believing in his name = being one who is born from God.

The Reality of Rejection

John has explained something difficult to comprehend:

The world did not know its own creator when he was in the world (Jn. 1:10).

This illustrates the depth of the world’s darkness.

The Gospel writer seems to have the majority in mind (we will see this in Jn. 1:12).

The rightful possessor of the world, its creator, entered into the world.

John begins a play on words with three terms, and this builds upon another play on three verbs.

τὰ ἴδια: involves a man’s personal attachment to the house and soil of his birth. It can also refer to his personal property.

Jn. 16:32.

Jn. 19:27.

οἱ ἴδιοι: could mean “addressing near relations.”

We could also understand this as a specific reference to the Jews.

He came unto his own ethnos.

They conscientiously rejected him.

κατέλαβεν: Jn. 1:5.

παρέλαβον: Jn. 1:11.

ἔλαβον: Jn. 1:12.

The rejection was purposeful.

Mk. 12:1-12.

All is Not Dispair

In spite of the previously described realities, John now strikes a positive, hopeful chord.

Some do understand the reality of who He is.

As Jn. 1:12-13 develops, we learn what it means to receive him, and we also learn who those are who become children of God.

Note the word “come to be” is used in a different kind of context, now. The pattern has now been broken, at least temporarily.

The relative statement introduces a class or group of people, but John’s focus is on what “the light” did for them.

He gave them authority, that is the right, to become children of God.

John then develops who they are:

Those given authority to become children of God are those who are believing in His name (our first introduction to this important idea/combination of words).

His name = his person, his identity.

They are ones “born out from God.”

Jn. 1:13 prepares us for the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus.

Children of God are those who are born from God, not born into the world through natural means.

Genetics do not make children of God.

Remember what John the Baptist told those who came to his baptism!

Effort does not make a child of God.

Only being born from God which means believing in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jn. 6:28-29.