John 1:6-13: a reflection

6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The true Light came into the world, and though his own did not receive him, to all who did receive him he gave the right to become children of God. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him, John writes; but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name. The true Light, Christ, came into the world he had made; yet the world did not recognize him, and his own people did not receive him. But not all rejected him. To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave something wonderful: the right to become children of God, born not of human descent or human will, but of God. Receiving Christ makes us children of God. This shows that to all who receive Christ, he gives the right to become children of God. To all who receive Christ, he gives the right to become children of God. Receiving Christ and believing in him makes you a child of God. This new birth is of God, not of human descent or will. The wonder offered to those who receive Christ is to become God's own child.

Notice the great gift given to those who receive Christ. The true Light came into the world; but there was a tragic response: the world he had made did not recognize him, and his own people did not receive him. Yet this was not the whole story. Some did receive him. And to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave something wonderful, a right they could not have claimed on their own: the right to become children of God. And John underlines the source of this: these were born not of natural descent, not by human will or effort, but of God. To become a child of God is not something we achieve or inherit by birth; it is given by God to those who receive Christ. This holds the heart of the gospel offer. Christ came, and though many rejected him, the offer stands to all: whoever receives him, believing in his name, is given the right to become a child of God. This is an astonishing gift. To be a child of God is to be brought into his family, made his own, given a relationship with God as our Father, not by our own achievement or birth, but by receiving Christ and being born of God. Whatever our background, whoever we are, if we receive Christ, we are given the right to become God's children. We do well to receive Christ, believing in his name, and so to be made children of God, born of God. Receive Christ, believing in his name, and be given the right to become a child of God. To become God's child is not achieved or inherited, but given to those who receive Christ. Whoever receives Christ, whatever their background, is made a child of God. The wonder offered to you in Christ is to become God's own child.

That is worth taking to heart, for to all who receive Christ, he gives the right to become children of God, and we do well to receive him, as John declares. Christ came to his own, and many did not receive him; but to all who did receive him, he gave the right to become children of God, born of God. Receive him. Do not let Christ come to you unreceived; receive him, believing in his name, and be given the right to become a child of God, born of God. Receive Christ, believing in his name, and be given the right to become a child of God, born not of human descent or will but of God, as the true Light came into the world and though his own did not receive him, to all who did receive him he gave the right to become children of God, since John writes that he came to his own and his own did not receive him but as many as received him and believed in his name he gave the right to become God's children; for the true Light, Christ, came into the world he had made, yet the world did not recognize him and his own people did not receive him, but not all rejected him, and to all who did receive him and believed in his name he gave something wonderful, the right to become children of God, born not of human descent or will but of God, so that receiving Christ makes us children of God, which holds the heart of the gospel offer, that Christ came and though many rejected him the offer stands to all, whoever receives him believing in his name being given the right to become a child of God, an astonishing gift, since to be a child of God is to be brought into his family and made his own and given a relationship with God as our Father, not by our own achievement or birth but by receiving Christ and being born of God, whatever our background, so that we do well to receive Christ and be made children of God.

Lord Jesus, the true Light came into the world, and though your own did not receive you, to all who did receive you, you gave the right to become children of God. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him, John writes; but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name. The true Light, you, came into the world you had made; yet the world did not recognize you, and your own people did not receive you. But not all rejected you. To all who did receive you, who believed in your name, you gave something wonderful: the right to become children of God, born not of human descent or human will, but of God. Receiving you makes us children of God. Show me the great gift given to those who receive you. You came into the world; but there was a tragic response: the world you had made did not recognize you, and your own people did not receive you. Yet this was not the whole story. Some did receive you. And to all who received you, who believed in your name, you gave something wonderful, a right they could not have claimed on their own: the right to become children of God. And John underlines the source of this: these were born not of natural descent, not by human will or effort, but of God. To become a child of God is not something I achieve or inherit by birth; it is given by you to those who receive you. This holds the heart of the gospel offer. You came, and though many rejected you, the offer stands to all: whoever receives you, believing in your name, is given the right to become a child of God. To be a child of God is to be brought into his family, made his own, given a relationship with God as my Father, not by my own achievement, but by receiving you and being born of God. Take that to my heart. Keep me from letting you come to me unreceived; help me receive you, Lord, believing in your name, and be given the right to become a child of God, born of God, brought into his family and made his own, whatever my background, by receiving you.