Receiving The Light

Imagine Christmas morning, your family wakes up, and the kids rush to the Christmas tree to see the presents awaiting them. In a flurry of torn tissue and wrapping paper, their presents are opened, and your kids start playing. Consider this scene with know “thank you’s” and no gratitude expressed. Then, when the parents ask for help cleaning up or to get ready for a Christmas breakfast or brunch, the children ignore their parents. The children get angry at the expectations of their parents to leave their toys and participate in family activities. 

Most would classify these kids as brats and question the parenting that tolerates this entitled behavior. This was the story of the first Christmas and God’s ongoing strife with His rebellious and entitled creatures.   

10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:10-11).

Jesus, the true light of the world, entered into the world He created and lived among the people He made. They did not rejoice to meet Him or even recognize Him. The people among the nations that had the most knowledge about God and the coming of Jesus refused to receive Him. 

This Sunday, we will focus on John 1:9-13. What happened when the True Light came to shine on the earth? Did His people receive Him or reject Him? How can we receive Him and be adopted into His family?