John 1:6-11

THE WORD MANIFESTED TO THE JEWSTHEIR REJECTION OF HIM

Text 1:6-11

6

There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

7

The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.

8

He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.

9

There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world.

10

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.

11

He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.

Queries

a.

Which John is meant in John 1:6?

b.

How could all. believe through him?

c.

Who is the true light?

d.

Who are his own?

Paraphrase

There came a man with a commission and message from God; this man's name was John. John came for the purpose of giving testimony to what he had heard and seen concerning the Light, John's witness was given in order that all might come to believe on the Light through him. John was not the Light, but came for the express purpose of pointing out the genuine Light. The perfect Light, which reveals God to every man who will receive the revelation, was coming into the world. The Light was in the world prior to His incarnation, and the world which was made through Him testified to Him, but the world would not recognize Him. He came incarnate unto His own nation, and they that were His own peculiar people rejected Him.

Summary

John was not the Light, but was sent purposely to point out the Light. Even when the Light was manifested in the flesh, those who should have received Him rejected Him.

Comment

The Greek word for sent used here is apostello, from which we get our word apostle. It usually means one sent with a commission. John is a Hellenized form of Jonathan, which means gift of God. There is a great similarity between John and his Old Testament namesake. Both he and Jonathan gave up a great glory that could have been theirs in order that God's Anointed might have the pre-eminence. With Jonathan, it was David; with John the Baptist, it was Christ. Whenever the name John is used in the fourth Gospel it is always used to refer to John the Baptist. The name of John the son of Zebedee is never mentioned.

Do you wonder why the Gospel writer would have to point out that John the Baptist was not the True Light? John had a tremendous following (Matthew 3:5). Many persons believed John to be the Christ (Luke 3:15; John 1:19). John even had disciples long after Christ had ascended, and in Ephesus, the very city where John was writing his Gospel account (Acts 19:1-3). In spite of the Baptist's continual affirmation that he was not the Christ, it was necessary to emphasize that Jesus Christ was the True Light. There were preacher lovers when John the Evangelist wrote his Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). John the Baptist's unfeigned humility in seeking to decrease and let Jesus increase prompted Jesus to remark, Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11). Every Christian ought to study intently the life of this greatest of all born of women and emulate his humility, self-denial and courage.

The grammar of the original Greek language in John 1:7 indicates that John came for the very purpose of testifying. John was to point out the True Light and give what evidence he had that this was the Light. The object of belief was Jesus Christthe agency or instrument through which the object is revealed was John. Faith still comes through the agency of the preached Word, (cf. Romans 10:14-17; James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:22-25). The first disciples won by Jesus were of John's training (John 1:35-42). Thus John was instrumental in bringing faith to all who subsequently believed on Jesus through the preaching of these apostles. John was a light (John 5:35) but not THE Light.

In John 1:8 we have repeated what was said in John 1:6-7. What an opportunity John had to pass himself off as the Christ! John showed more unselfishness, perhaps, than any man that ever lived. More preachers today need to pattern their ministry after John the Baptist'S. It is imperative that all Christians heed the injunction of these verses that no preacher or teacher, however great, is to be worshipped or followed. only Jesus Christ Our Lord.

John 1:9 is said to be the Quaker Text because they use it to substantiate their Inner light theory. Every verse of Scripture must be interpreted in the light of other Scriptures. The Bible nowhere teaches that every single person is enlightened whether he wants to be or not. Even here in this context (John 1:1-11), both before and after John 1:9, the writer speaks of men rejecting this illuminating Light. Luther says of this passage, There is only one light that lights all men, and no man comes into the world who can possibly be illumined by any other light, This interpretation takes account of the rest of the New Testament. Just as Jesus is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, He is also the light of the world. But just as all the world will not avail themselves of His purifying blood, neither does every man receive His Light of Life. The word true in this verse could be better translated genuine or perfect, as opposed to unreal and imperfect.

There is some disagreement among commentators as to when the Light was in the world (John 1:10). In the Greek text, was is in the imperfect tense (continuous existence in past time). The world was made through Him, and He gave it Life and Order. This should have been enough evidence to direct men's minds toward One Eternal Being (Romans 1:20-23), Yet the world (men) refused to have God in their knowledge.

John 1:11 shows the extreme perversity of men in that even when The Light became Incarnate, His own (generally speaking) rejected Him. The pathos of the situation comes out in a literal translation of the texthe came unto his own nation and they that were his own people did not receive him. He came to a nation that should have prepared itself for Him. He should have been welcomed like a kingbut He was rejected. Israel, her people and all her institutions, existed only for His glory and His eternal purposes (cf. Zechariah 2:12; Hosea 9:3; Jeremiah 2:7; Jeremiah 16:18; Leviticus 25:23; Exodus 19:5; Psalms 135:4; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18; Deuteronomy 32:9).

They knew Him all right! The whole history of Israel was a training school (Galatians 3:24) to prepare the Jews to receive the world's Messiah. But they didn-'t want a meek, unmilitaristic and uncorruptible Messiah. The Jewish leaders wanted a Messiah that would help them in their graftthe Jewish people wanted a King that would put bread on their tables, and plenty of it. The parable of the wicked husbandmen (Matthew 21:33 ff) represents the Jews as killing the Heir, not in ignorance, but because they did know who He was.

Here is the great tragedy: A people that had so long been nursed, disciplined and prepared to present the Messiah to the world for salvation, scorned and finally shamefully crucified the Incarnate Word. This is why Jesus-' body was racked with great sobs over the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41 ff). this is what caused Him to wish agonizingly that He could give them His protecting love, but they would not (Matthew 23:37 ff). What pathos there is in this verse he came unto his own homeand his own people gave him no welcome, It happened to Jesus long ago with Israeland it is still happening today within New Israel, the Church!

Quiz

1.

Why should it be emphasized that John the Baptist was not the Light?

2.

Was John a light in any sense? Are we lights (Matthew 5:14)?

3.

What is meant by the light which lighteth every man?

4.

Can we see the evidence of a Creator in nature (cf. Romans 1:20; Psalms 19:1; Job 12:7-10)?

5.

Why is Israel's rejection of Christ so pathetic?

6.

Do you think the Jews knew that Jesus was the Messiah (cf. Acts 3:17; 1 Corinthians 2:8)?

7.

Is Christ still rejected by His own today?