John 1:1–18 (ESV) — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Introduction

• A gourmet food store set up a tasting booth for imported jams. On one day, the display featured 6 different jams; on another day, it featured 24.
• While the 24-jam display attracted more customers to the table, they were unable to make a decision. Shoppers who saw only 6 jams were ten times more likely to actually buy a jar.
• Decision time—John: we must decide about Christ.
• Today’s Theme: The Logos, the One who was with God and is God, the One who made us, broadcast His light to the world by coming into the world as one of us. Some reject Him, which is a tragedy. Others receive Him, which is a treasure because it leads to joyful regeneration where one becomes a child of God.
  • 1. To reject Him is a tragedy.
  • 2. To receive Him is a treasure.
    • Know the Maker. Receive the King. Believe in the name of Jesus. And become—by the power of God—a child of God.

1. To Reject Him is a Tragedy (1:9-11)

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Research summary of John 1:9-11:

• The Logos (the Word, who is Light and the Second Person of the Trinity), invites everyone to come to Him. His arrival was predicted by the prophets, and He came into the world at His incarnation. When He arrived as Jesus, even though He made everything, He was not received by the people He made. He was even rejected by his own people, ethnic Israel, when He embedded himself and his ministry with them.

The True Light came into the world.

• • 9 The true light…
    • He is the true, genuine, ultimate revelation of God.
    • Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:1–3a, ESV)
  • Also: the true bread (6:32) and the true vine (15:1).

• 9 …which gives light to everyone…
  • Inner light? Salvific illumination?
  • At the incarnation, Christ shed light upon God. He made God visible.
    • And the Light displayed the way to life with God.
• 9 …was coming into the world.
  • The incarnation—Christmas!
  • There is a personal, infinite God—and He stepped into history at the point of the incarnation of Christ.

And He was rejected by many.

• The world rejected their Maker.

• • • 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him:
      • Staggering irony
    • The world: John is not talking about the planet, but about human society organized in rebellion against its Maker.
      • Genesis 1-11 overview, culminating in Babel.
      • “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19, NASB95)

• Israel rejected their King.

• • 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him:
    • This deepens the tragedy—the very people who possessed the written word rejected the Living Word.
  • Who?
    • Judean leaders and authorities
    • Disciples who find Jesus too difficult (John 6:66).
    • Unbelieving brothers of Jesus (John 7:3-5).
    • Judas, Caiphas, Annas, crowds

Know your Maker. Receive your King.

2. To Receive Him is a Treasure (1:12-13)

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Research summary of John 1:12-13:

• Fortunately, there was a remnant, just as there has always been, who did receive Him by believing in His good nature, character, and name. He gave them the right and power to become God’s children because, when people receive this Logos/Light/Christ figure, God causes them to be born into His family. This is not something human effort or ingenuity can generate, but is true regeneration, which is something only God can produce.

Forensically Absolute

• • Treasure: Final, judicial verdict of complete acquittal and the security of acceptance before God.
    • 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24, ESV)
    • 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1, ESV)

Cosmologically Invaluable

• • Treasure: A close relationship with the One who designed and fashioned us.
    • 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3, ESV)
    • 16 For by him all things were created…all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16, ESV)

Anthropologically Restorative

• • Treasure: A renewal of our original design as people made in God’s image to exercise gracious dominion on earth.
    • 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, ESV)
    • 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” (John 11:44, ESV)
    • 24 Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24, ESV)

Relationally Unsurpassable

• • Treasure: Personal, secure access to God as our Father, through the adoption Christ won, leading to deep fulfillment.
    • 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” (John 20:17, ESV)
    • 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15, ESV)
    • “To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.” — J.I. Packer, Knowing God

Pneumatologically Enlivening

• • Treasure: God’s Spirit comes to live within us, blessing us with his comfort, guidance, teaching, and empowerment.
    • 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17, ESV)
    • 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22, ESV)
    • 11 Who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11, ESV)

Missiologically Satisfying

• • Treasure: He sends us on a mission and gives us a present purpose.
    • 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21, ESV)
    • 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ… (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)

Teleologically Joyful

• • Treasure: Granted an unfading and ultimate home with God.
    • 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:3, ESV)
    • 2 We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2, ESV)

Illustration: A Race Car

• Forensically Absolute (The Title)
• Cosmologically Invaluable (The Signature)
• Anthropologically Restorative (The Home-Garage)
• Pneumatologically Enlivening (The Fuel)
• Missiologically Satisfying (The Race)
• Teleologically Joyful (The Showroom)

Conclusion: a treasure accessed by faith.

13. Born — not of blood, the will of the flesh, or the will of man: We cannot make ourselves children of God.

13. But of God: God births all who receive and believe Christ into his family.

12. Receive him / Believed in his name: Trust, faith.

• Outline of John — Rejection (ch. 1-12), Reception (ch. 13-21)
  • The Word must be decided upon.
• Christmas rejecters: Herod, religious establishment, insiders, Nazareth
• Christmas receivers: Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, Simeon, Anna, wise men

His light shines—He invites you.

• 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14–16, ESV)

• Luke 2:7 — is there room in your heart?

Study Questions

Head (Knowledge, Facts, Understanding)

1. Understanding the “Tragedy”: Why is the rejection of Jesus by the world and his own people described as particularly tragic?
2. The Nature of Regeneration: John lists three specific ways spiritual birth does not happen (blood, the will of the flesh, the will of man). What do these specific negations teach us about the nature of true salvation compared to human effort or heritage?

Heart (Feelings, Impressions, Desires) 

1. The Weight of Rejection: Antipathy toward God makes it difficult to see the Light. Does knowing that Jesus was rejected by the very people He created encourage you when you face rejection for your faith, or does it grieve you? How do you process that emotional tension?
2. The Treasure of Adoption: We discussed the “treasure” of being given the right to become children of God (v. 12). Which of the specific benefits mentioned in the message resonates most deeply with your current emotional state, and why?

Hands (Actions, Commitments, Decisions) 

1. Receiving as a Daily Posture: While “receiving” Christ is the moment of salvation, it is also a continuing posture of trust. In what specific area of your life (e.g., finances, family planning, anxiety) do you need to stop resisting and “receive” His authority and light this week?

Responding to the Light: Since we are “born of God” and not of our own will, we are now carriers of this Light. Identify one person in your life who is currently in the “darkness” of rejection. What is one specific, practical way you can bear witness to the Light for them this Christmas season?