John 1:6-13 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Good Good Father – Chris Tomlin
• In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found) – Adrienne Liesching
• Phil Wickham – Living Hope

Resources for Family Worship (with Children)

• Let Your Light Shine Bible Story Video – Lesson for Kids
• He Is the Light | Stellar VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Light of the World | Stellar VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• In You Alone | Rocky Railway VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth are located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

After tracing back to “the beginning before the beginning” and describing God, “the Word,” and the creation of life, the author suddenly shifts the focus at lightning speed to a figure who lived around A.D. 30. “John” (v. 6) was the one who led a renewal movement by baptizing people in the Jordan River before Jesus began His public ministry. By saying, “There was a man sent from God,” the author makes it clear that John’s baptismal movement was part of God’s plan. God sent him for the purpose of testifying about “the light,” so that people might believe through him (v. 7). At that time, some people believed and followed John the Baptist as if he were “the light,” but he was only a witness to “the light” (v. 8).

The “light” to which John the Baptist testified is the “true light” (v. 9). This means the perfect, complete, and eternal light. The light we know comes from the sun, and that light will one day be extinguished. The light that came into being on the first day, when God commanded, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3), was not sunlight. It was the foundational light that makes all existence possible—the light that emanates from God Himself. The phrase “the light was coming into the world” refers to the birth of Jesus. This was a one-time event in history. Yet the author does not say that the light “was shining” on all people in the past tense, but that it “is shining” in the present tense. Although Jesus, who came in the flesh, is no longer physically present on earth, “the light” continues to shine.

With the statement, “He was in the world” (v. 10), the author turns our attention to Jesus’ earthly ministry. He came and taught about the kingdom of God, but people did not recognize Him and rejected Him (v. 11). By saying, “Though the world was made through him” and “He came to that which was his own,” the author emphasizes how foolish it was to reject Him.

Not everyone denied and rejected Him. There were those who “received” Him (v. 12). The author describes this as “believing in his name.” In Hebrew culture, a person’s “name” represents that person’s very being. Therefore, to “believe in his name” means to believe in the person himself. The Greek word pisteuō, translated as “believe,” refers to a state of personal trust. The author uses the present tense verb, which in Greek indicates ongoing action. Thus, “believing in his name” means living in a continual state of personally trusting Him. Acknowledging and receiving Him is a one-time event, but living within that relationship is an ongoing reality.

When this happens, the “privilege” of becoming “children of God” is given to that person. All human beings are created by God and are, in essence, His children, but because of sin they have lost that status. Recovering it cannot be achieved through human effort. The phrase “not of natural descent” (v. 13) means that being Jewish does not automatically make one a child of God. “Nor of human decision” means that becoming God’s child is not obtained through physical relationships. “Or a husband’s will” means that it does not come through human will or effort. Restoring someone to the status of God’s child belongs solely to the authority of God the Father. God restores the status of children to those who receive Jesus and remain in Him, living their lives within that relationship.

Meditation:

After going back to the very origin where time began and describing who God is, the author John shifts the focus to an event that took place within time. This is because “the Word–Wisdom,” who was with God the Father from the beginning and who was Himself a divine being, entered into time. Since all things were created through Him, He is the source of life. Because He is eternal, the life He gives is also eternal. That is why He is called “the true light” (v. 9). If physical life depends on sunlight, eternal life is found in Him. All created things were made to live and flourish in Him, enjoying both physical life and eternal life.

However, humanity lives knowing only physical life and being satisfied with it. This is because of separation from God caused by sin. Without eternal life, physical life is like a spark that flashes briefly and then disappear. As a result of being separated from God, human beings neither seek to know “the Word–Wisdom,” nor do they choose to live according to Him even when they know Him. Instead, they shut their eyes tightly and live as their own desires lead them. This is the cause of the spiritual darkness in which humanity lives. When individuals live in spiritual darkness, the world becomes filled with darkness. In dark places, human sinfulness inevitably runs rampant. Because spiritual darkness lies thick over the world, sin and evil flourish.

The Creator God does not abandon this world as it is. He carried out the history of salvation by choosing the descendants of Abraham, and when the time had fully come, He sent “the Word–Wisdom.” In verse 14, the author says, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” He is Jesus of Nazareth. As the Creator, He came to the beings He created, and as the eternal King, He came to His own people.

When created beings stand before their Creator, they face two choices: either to acknowledge and receive Him, or to reject and exclude Him. When people stand before their ruler, they must choose either to acknowledge His sovereignty or to reject it. Sadly, there were those who did not acknowledge His ownership and authority but instead rejected Him. As a result, Jesus was crucified and died. As His creatures and as His people, they did not realize how great a sin that was.

If we know who He is and who we are, we must acknowledge and accept His ownership and authority over us. Receiving Him as Lord happens through a moment of decision, but entrusting ourselves to Him and living under His lordship after receiving Him is something that must continue. When we do so, we are restored as children of God and are granted the rights of children. If we truly believe that we have been restored as God’s children and that all the privileges of being His children have been given to us, we will naturally strive to live in this world as God’s children should.

This is the way of life for those who have received “the light.” This is what it means to live according to “the Word–Wisdom,” and this is the path to enjoying “the life,” that is, eternal life, here on this earth.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank You for enabling us to recognize who You are and to realize Your ownership and authority over us. Thank You for opening our hearts to receive You and for making us children of God. As we give thanks for our status as Your children, help us to enjoy the privileges of being Your children and guide us to live lives worthy of that calling. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus is the true Light who gives us eternal life, makes us God’s children, and invites us to live every day as God’s beloved sons and daughters.

• For Preschool-Elementary:
  • What are sometimes when you like light better than darkness?How do you think Jesus is like a light for us?
  • Who takes care of you at home?How does it feel to know that God also calls you His child?
  • What is one small thing you can do this week to follow Jesus’ way (kindness, sharing, praying)?

• Youth:
  • The devotion says people often live only for physical life. What does that look like today (school, sports, social media, success)?
  • Why do you think eternal life still matters for your everyday life?
  • The devotion says receiving Jesus is one moment, but living with Him is ongoing.
  • What do you think it looks like to “keep trusting Jesus” in daily life?
  • If you truly believed you are God’s child, how might that change how you see yourself at school or with friends?