Those Who Received Him

In our study of John’s gospel this week we will be beginning the next section of John. In his excellent commentary on the gospel Dr James Boice points out that there are verses in the opening chapters of John that provide an outline for the first twelve chapters of the book. In John 1:11-12 the apostle says: “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,” The chapter that we begin this week deals with “all who did receive Him.”  Many will believe on Christ and receive Him as Lord.  However, Jesus will now be rejected by His own people and the rejection will culminate in His death for sinners.

This is one of my favorite narratives in all of the Bible. The irony and silliness of the Jewish leaders is so manifest in these verse that I never fail to be both amused and appalled by it every time I read it.