SOME MISS HIM

John 1:6-13
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Christ: The Eternal Word

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.


God sent the message ahead, prior to His arrival. John the Baptist witnessed to the coming Messiah. The Jewish nation had heard the prophets proclaim that One would come to save them. Yet when He arrived some missed Him. The true light came but the world didn’t recognize him, his own people (Israel) rejected him.

The problem was not in the message of the forerunner. Neither was it a shortcoming of the light himself. The problem was the condition of the hearts of the people. They had been living in darkness so long that they had come to love the darkness. They enjoyed the way they were living. They were not ready to change.

There were some however who were willing to change … they believed and were reborn. They became children in God’s family.

Not much has changed down through the years. Many still love the darkness and refuse to believe. Others see the light and are willing to leave the darkness … turn from their wicked ways … be born again. I rejoice that God counts you among His children because of your relationship to Jesus Christ.