John 1: 6-18

                There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

                He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  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: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

                John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me was before me.  And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for [upon] grace.  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

                                                                                The Gospel of John 1:6-18  KJV

John, the writer of this gospel, distinguishes John the Baptist and his role a “as a witness,” who precedes Jesus as the one who announces him to Judah (or Israel).  This passage states that John the Baptist “was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of the Light.” (Jn.1:8) Jesus, however is the Light of God, sent into the world.

Jesus as the logos or Word of God made the world, but when he entered the world as the Incarnate (in the flesh) Son of God was not recognized by the world as its Creator, but was spurned, scorned and finally crucified by the inhabitants of Judah (or Israel), aided in this task by the Romans (Pilate – Gentile non-believers).  The participation of the Gentiles (Romans) means that we all are guilty of Jesus’ rejection and crucifixion.  Indeed, even today, over 2000 years later, there are still some who do not recognize Jesus as Creator, Redeemer, Sustain-er of Life, and King (or Lord!)

John, the writer of the Gospel of John, describes Jesus not only as the Creator of the world (the Logos), but also as “the true Light”, which lights the conscience or inner self of every man and woman that comes into the world. Even though each human person who is born into the world is made “in the image of God,” has a conscience or inner witness to know right from wrong, still when Jesus arrives on our scene, “the world knew him not.” (Jn 1:10)

John continues: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (Jn 1:11)   Jesus is our Creator, but we (as the human race) did not recognize Him!  We bear the stamp within of our Creator, but we still do not recognize Him nor did we receive or welcome Him!

There is still hope for us: “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: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (Jn. 1:12-13KJV)

There is a distinct difference between being a child born of the flesh (or “of blood” or “of the will of man,”) and being born of God!

Being born of God is a spiritual birth, which can only be given by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus describes this later in John, chapter 3:5-8:

“Verily, verily [or Truly, truly], I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [a human birth] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where is listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:  so is everyone that is born of the Spirit” (Gospel of John 3:5-8, see also 3:9-21).

There is an element of mystery to every spiritual birth, for (as) it involves a direct encounter with the Living God!  Which one of us has ever seen the Holy Spirit (unless we count the experience of Acts 2 who saw the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost “as tongues of living fire.”)  (Acts of the Apostles 2:3)

All should seek to be reborn by the Holy Spirit of God the Father and God the Son!  All should seek to be baptized and filled with the blessed Holy Spirit, who manifests in Acts to the early disciples, as “cloven tongues of living fire!” (Acts 2:1-3)

Bill Wilson, servant of God by God’s grace and mercies.