Welcome to “Let’s Study the Bible”! This is a series of blog posts that are aimed at encouraging you to study the Bible with me. This bible study is an extension of a sermon series at our church, and if you would like to watch this message, click here for the sermon “Receiving the Light” Your comments, questions, and answers are welcome here. I hope this series will be a devotional help. 

-Pastor Aaron

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God

John 1:6-16, KJV

6 Phrases to Look at

“a man sent from God”

“which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”

“the world knew him not”

“his own recieved him not”

“as many as recieved him”

“of God” 

A man sent from God…

What was so important about this man that the Apostle John included a second person in his prologue? At first glance, John the Baptist doesn’t fit the context very well. Pay attention to the focus of John 1:1-5 on the divine person called the Word, and then notice the Baptizer is discussed briefly in verses 6-8. The Apostle then resumes his explanation of this divine Word made flesh in verses 9-14. Why is John the Baptist in the middle of these two passages (1:1-5 and 1:9-14) discussing the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ? It almost seems out of place. The Baptist isn’t included in the prologue of this Gospel because of His own character, faithfulness, intellect, morality, or anything that he has done or accomplished. The Baptizer is mentioned here because his life’s mission was prophesied in the Old Testament scriptures to come before Christ and prepare the way for Him. (Isaiah 40:1-5 and Malachi 4:5-6) 

John the Baptist is representative of all the previous prophecies about the coming of Christ. This Baptist is the final preceeding prophet before the revelation of Christ to the world. This leads us to the second great reason for the inclusion of John the Baptist. The first reason is to connect Jesus’ ministry to the Old Testament scriptures, and the second is to highlight Jesus’ mission to save sinners. John was sent to bear witness to the Light of the World and introduce his world to the Christ who saves. This inclusion highlights the Apostle’s pattern in the prologue to introduce us to Jesus’ true identity and Jesus’ true purpose. 

Which lighteth every man that cometh into the world…

What is meant by the True light giving light to every man that enters into the world? 

What is the light that everyman is given?

The world knew him not…

It is that “the Word became Flesh,” that the Master took on Him the form of a servant. For He became Son of man, who was God’s own Son, in order that He might make the sons of men to be children of God. For the high when it associates with the low touches not at all its own honor, while it raises up the other from its excessive lowness; and even thus it was with the Lord. He in nothing diminished His own Nature by this condescension, but raised us, who had always sat in disgrace and darkness, to glory unspeakable. Thus it may be, a king, conversing with interest and kindness with a poor mean man, does not at all shame himself, yet makes the other observed by all and illustrious.1

John Chrysostom

How could the creator of all things be unknown by His creation?

His own received him not…

Who are meant as “his own”?

What are some reasons that “his own” did not receive Him?

As many as received him…

What is the decisive difference between those who receive Jesus and those who do not receive Jesus?

Of God…

Natural descent avails nothing – which means that heritage and race, even the Jewish race, are irrelevant to spiritual birth. In John 8 the Evangelist enlarges on this theme, showing that physical descent from Abraham is of no significance if one does not reproduce Abraham’s faith. Spiritual birth is not the product of sexual desire, ‘the will of the flesh’, here rendered ‘of human decision’; it is certainly not the result of a husband’s will. New birth is finally, nothing other than an act of God.2

D.A. Carson

What is the difference between Jesus being the Son of God and us being called sons of God?

What is the phrase “of God” contrasted against?

What is meant by the phrase “of God”?

foot notes:

  1.  John Chrysostom. (1889). Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Gospel of St. John. In P. Schaff (Ed.), & G. T. Stupart (Trans.), Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and Epistle to the Hebrews (Vol. 14, pp. 38–39). Christian Literature Company.
  2. D.A. Carson. (1991). The Gospel According to JOHN (pp. 126). Eerdman’s publishing company.