7006 - Not Recognized - John 1:10-12

Let us continue our study in the Gospel of John with three verses today. John 1, verses 10 through 12, speaking about Jesus, tell us:

“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. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God “

These words carry us back to the beginning of time, when creation took place. In a previous study we reviewed the truths about original creation – how the Son-of-God, Messiah/Christ, created what we see out of nothing. He spoke, and matter and all things came into being. Then with some things, he took matter which he has brought forth, and sculptured and shaped them into final form.

This was true with mankind, so it is accurate to say that humanity was touched and handled by Christ before He ultimately breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and he became a living being. Man was created as a trinity of body, soul and spirit (1Thes. 5:23).

The passage for today that many man creatures had lost any memory of the creator. As mankind had multiplied upon earth many of them had no recollection of the creator, the Holy One who had extended to them the opportunity for a close relationship.

We should keep in our mind the fact that when Adam sinned, Holy God departed from his human spirit. This is the definition of Spiritual death – being separated from God.

Because of God’s purity and holiness He cannot endure close relationship with those people who are tainted and blemished by evil. He is so pure that he cannot look upon evil, and cannot tolerate wrong (Hab. 1:17). The Psalm (5:4) says the wicked cannot dwell with Holy and pure God. Nothing blemished and impure because of sin can enter Heaven (Rev. 21:27).

These truths help explain why verse 10 says the people in the world did not recognize Jesus. Many of the people of earth were ignorant about God.

Remember also that nature had been changed by sin’s corrupting force.

Nevertheless, merciful and gracious God had crafted an eternal plan for redeeming man from the contamination of sin. Messiah/Christ agreed to serve as the atoning sacrifice, whose blood would wash away every blemish and defect from mankind (1Pet.19-20).

To do this the Son-of-God was required to be born of a virgin mother, and then to live life in a human body. He must live a perfect and sinless life until God’s chosen time when He would be brutalized and crucified on Calvary’s cross. This is why Jesus was in the world at this time as a man. He had to establish his human qualification to serve as the atoning sacrifice.

He had come unto His own – to the very ones He created – and many of His own rejected Him, scoffed at Him, denied His deity. They did not embrace Him. They did not give attention to His message. Then ultimately the ruling body of the nation from which he descended condemned Him to death as an imposter.

Yet many did receive Him and His message with joyful hearts. And to all who received Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the legal right to become children of God.

Crafted before the beginning of time, and before creation, God’s eternal plan was not endangered. This destiny of crucifixion was the very reason why Jesus came to earth as a human being (Mt.26:54; Lk. 22:37; John 12:27; 18:37; 1Jn.3:8). He had these facts from heaven clearly in His mind as He ministered here on earth, preparing for the sacrifice.