A Call to Reflect Christ

 Witnessing the Light

Becoming Children of God

Receiving Christ: The Gift of New Life

Reflection on John 1:6-13

In John 1:6-13, the Apostle John introduces us to two crucial themes of the gospel—witness and reception of Christ—by focusing on John the Baptist and the identity of Jesus as the Light of the world.

Verses 6-8: The Witness of John the Baptist

“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.”

John the Baptist’s mission was divinely appointed. He was sent by God to bear witness to Jesus, the Light of the world, so that others might believe. His role emphasizes a truth central to Christian life: we are not the light, but we reflect the light. Like John, we are called to point others toward Christ by our testimony. This humility reminds us that any influence we have comes from pointing to Jesus, not ourselves.

Verses 9-11: The Light Rejected

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

The irony here is profound. The Creator entered His creation, yet He was not recognized by the very world He made. Even His own people, who had long awaited the Messiah, rejected Him. This rejection speaks to the condition of the human heart, which, apart from God’s grace, resists His truth and light.

Charles Spurgeon reflects on this rejection by highlighting the tragedy of spiritual blindness. He notes that while creation itself recognizes its Maker (as seen in calming storms and multiplying loaves), humanity often chooses darkness over light.

Verses 12-13: The Privilege of Becoming Children of God

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Despite rejection by many, John offers hope: those who receive Christ by faith are given the right to become children of God. This transformation is not based on human effort, heritage, or will—it is solely the work of God’s grace.

This passage highlights the new birth as central to the Christian experience. It is a divine act, a miracle that brings us into God’s family, offering us a new identity and inheritance.

Personal Application

• How can I, like John the Baptist, bear witness to the Light in my daily life?

• In what areas of my life do I still resist the light of Christ?

• Am I fully embracing my identity as a child of God, living in the confidence of His love?

A Prayer Based on John 1:6-13

Lord, thank You for sending Jesus, the true Light, into this dark world. Help me to be a faithful witness like John the Baptist, always pointing others to You. Strengthen my faith when I face rejection, and remind me of the privilege of being Your child. Let Your light shine in my heart and through my life, that others may come to know and receive You. Amen.