Sermon Outline:
1. The world did not recognize Him (v. 9-10)
2. His own did not receive Him (v. 11)
3. God gives the right to become His children (v. 12-13
Sermon Text:
John 1:9-13
9 The true light, which enlightens 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.
Sermon Notes
“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” –John 1:11
Man left to his own free-will would not choose to follow Jesus. He will choose a god of his own invention. We are not born-again because of heritage; or by natural disposition; or by our own religious designs. God… must give us “the right” to become His children.
“We know that our Lord fed thousands of hungry persons. He multiplied loaves and fishes, and fed crowds, so that they did all eat and were filled. For a time He was very popular with them, and they would have made Him a king, for idle men much desire a monarch who will supply their needs, and relieve them from personal labor. Yet these persons had no affection for His person or doctrine, but followed Him simply and alone for what they could get from Him. Many of these selfish followers, doubtless, gave their voices against Him and shouted “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” They ate bread with Him and lifted up their heel against Him. Surely, after sitting at a table so marvelously supplied, reason itself would have suggested to every feaster that their host must be a prophet sent of God, if not God Himself. ‘Tis strange, ’tis passing strange, ’tis [wondrous] that men receiving so much at His hands should still remain unbelievers in Him.
The same treatment was dealt out to our Lord when He acted as the teacher of the people. He taught them pure truth in the best conceivable manner, and small indeed was His reward. They could not complain of His sermons that they were dull and unattractive, or that they were devoid of sympathy. We never read that a hearer ever fell asleep under Christ’s preaching, as Eutychus did under the lengthy discourse of Paul; neither were any terrified by his looks, as men have been by fierce fanatic leaders; His ministry was pleasing, and charmed the ear, yet it was ill requited. When His sermon at Nazareth was finished, what was His reward? They took Him to the brow of the hill, and they would have cast Him down headlong had He not escaped. When He taught the Jews in the temple, “they took up stones again to stone Him” (John 10:31). In return for His arguments of mercy, they assailed Him with the weapons of malice. Though, by declaring the glad tidings of salvation, He rendered to His hearers the most precious service, some of them in return sought to entrap Him in His speech, and others gnashed their teeth in rage against Him. He brought light into the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.” –Charles Spurgeon
