Deep Dive: John 1:6 -- 13

December 30, 2020 (Wednesday)

 

John explains that God sent a forerunner for Jesus. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” [John 1:6 ESV] We call this messenger “John the Baptist” because he baptized people in the Jordan. His ministry was foretold by prophecies that Elijah would come before the Messiah (see Malachi 3:1 and 4:5).

 

Elijah was and is expected as the forerunner to Jesus. While this is no Elijah proper Jesus said John the Baptist was in the spirit of Elijah (see Luke 1:17 and Matthew 11:7 – 14). Essentially John the Baptist was tasked, “He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” [John 1:7 ESV] His ministry was powerful, attracting people from Jerusalem and an official delegate from the religious elite.

 

The gospel of John distinguishes Jesus from John the Baptist, “He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.” [John 1:8 ESV] Again the gospel distinguishes between two things so we can better understand Jesus as God. John the Baptist declared, “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 ESV]

 

John the Baptist’s ministry happened before Jesus begin His public ministry (see John 1:9). Jesus’ true identity as “the light” was unknown. “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” [John 1:10 ESV] This verse has two points. First, people did not know Jesus before He stepped forward. Second, people do not know Jesus if they refuse to believe.

 

One of the difficulties Jesus faced was, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” [John 1:10 ESV] Jesus came first to the Jews. Later Paul would go to the Gentiles (see Acts 13:46).

 

Now we come to a misunderstood verse, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” [John 1:12 ESV] For those familiar with the KJV and the Greek, the idea of believe occurs after the “right to become.” There are three parts of this verse: receive, believe, and become. Let’s break it down.

 

The words “receive” and “believe” seem to mean the same thing. One difference may be the idea of “receive” is an act of the will. While receive is active, believe is less active. It’s like John is saying even the simple act of believing, without any active point (such as praying “the sinners’ prayer”) is enough to give “the right to become children of God.”

 

Here is the point John is making: receiving/believing is distinct from the right or authority to become the children of God. Receiving/believing is not the same as becoming. I wonder how many have received/believed but have never exercised the right to become children of God.

 

This is in keeping with the flow of the way John is writing the prologue. The Son and the Father are distinct. Creation and life are distinct. Life and light are distinct. John and Jesus are distinct. Now John distinguishes the act of believing from the action of becoming.

 

This becoming is described as “birth.” John describes it, “They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” [John 1:13 NLT] My contention with American theology is the mistaken thought that a ritual or simple belief can take the place of being born again. If there is no change, then how can we say “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” [2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV]