John 1:11 – His Own Did Not Receive Him

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” – John 1:11

A person’s confirmation or rejection of a fact does not change the validity of the fact. For example, if you put a seed into a man’s hand and explain that the great tree he is standing under came from a similar seed; the man can either accept or reject that reality. He either knows the truth, or rejects the truth, but the origin of the tree is the same regardless. 

When John 1:11 says “He came to that which was his own,” it speaks of Earth and mankind as under the authority and possession of Jesus. All of creation was “made through him,” (John 1:10). When Jesus “rebuked the winds and the waves,” we see that creation itself obeys Him (Matt. 8:26). At His command illness is no more, He “rebuked the fever and it left her,” (Luke 4:39). The damage of disease is healed at His command, “he said, ‘Be clean!’ and immediately the leprosy left him,” (Luke 5:13). The evil forces at work on the Earth obey His command, “Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah,” (Luke 4:41). He closes the mouths of lions, makes men immune to fire, stops the flow of the Jordan River, and changes the heart of sinners, (Dan. 6:22, 3:25; Josh. 3:13; Ezek. 36:26).

“All authority in heaven and on earth,” belongs to Jesus, and yet He has given man the freedom to choose Him or reject Him (Matt. 28:18). Regardless of what man chooses Jesus promises that “in all things [He] works for the good of those who love him,” (Rom. 8:28). For when Jesus preached in His hometown of Nazareth their response was fury and rejection, “They… drove him out of the town,” and intended to, “throw him off the cliff,” (Luke 4:28-30). The ultimate rejection of Jesus came at His arrest and crucifixion.  The Jews put their promised Messiah on trial, spit in His face, struck Him with their fists, slapped Him, mocked Him, and had Him crucified (Matt. 26:67). The Gentile Roman soldiers stripped Him, dressed Him as a fool, placed a crown of thorns on His head, mocked Him, spit on Him, beat Him, and crucified Him (Matt. 27:27-31). Those who passed by during His crucifixion, as well as the two rebels He was crucified alongside, hurled insults at Him and mocked Him (Matt. 27:38-41). Today the world mocks Him and pridefully blasphemes His name and His truths, rejecting His grace for gluttony, idolatry, false truths, sexual delusion, and war on the family. Today, as Christians, we all too often exchange the happiness and peace that surpasses all understanding for lukewarm comfort and a spirit of discontent, complaining about the weather, politics, unbelievers, minor inconveniences, or even the very things God has given to us as gifts.

Does our pursuit of knowing Jesus more deeply take its appropriate place as our number one priority? When we are confronted with a truth in the word of God that does not align with our preferences, what do we do? Are we included in John 1:11, when it states, “his own did not receive him?” We either know the Truth or we reject the Truth, but Jesus is Lord and He will not be mocked for long (Gal. 6:7, Rev. 19:11-21).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for your patience with us. Thank you for your correction. Thank you for life, joy, contentment, and happiness in you. Help us to receive your teaching.