Together in Christ: 'But to All...' — John 1:9-13

Thursday, December 26, 2024

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The one who is the true light [Jesus Christ], who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

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

— John 1:9-13 NLT

Key Thought

Israel had long waited for the Messiah to come. The prophets promised His coming, and God's angels longed to know the time of the Messiah's coming. [1] Through all their times of hardship, defeat, bondage, and exile, God's people prayed for Messiah to come as their Deliverer. Yet, when Jesus the Messiah did come, the world did not receive Him, and His own people rejected Him. Even though Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem, His family's home place, no one even offered Joseph and Mary a room where He could be born. [2] Because of King Herod's ruthless paranoia and determination to eliminate any rival to his reign as king, he tried to kill Jesus, the Messiah and King of Israel, as a young child. [3] Eventually, Jesus' own people, the children of Israel, demanded that another Herod, along with Roman governor Pontius Pilate, crucify Jesus. [4] They did. However, God raised Jesus from the dead, and through all the awful abuse that Jesus experienced and endured, He triumphed over sin, death, and hell for us.

"But to all" who are willing to believe in Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Savior, the Father gives them "the right to become children of God." This blessing is so incredible, and God's grace is so expansive, that we are now co-heirs with Jesus, our "Big Brother," to all God's amazing promises. [5] To help us realize and actualize our being children of God, Jesus poured the Holy Spirit into each of us as we were born into God's family. [6] The Spirit enables us to approach God as our Abba Father, just as Jesus did, [7] and know we are heard — not just our words heard, but our deepest emotions that are not definable by words. [8] The Messiah has come and brought each of us God's invitation to be His child. Thank God, our Abba for this precious, tender, and forever relationship that no human could provide, but that our beloved heavenly Father brought to us through His gift of Jesus!

[1] 1 Peter 1:10-12 NIV. Dr. Neil Lightfoot, a beloved professor, loved to read this passage and say, "The angels stood on tiptoe trying to see over heaven's horizon seeking to know the day the Messiah would come."
[2] Joseph and Mary, both descended from David's line, were required to go to Bethlehem, "their own ancestral towns to register for this census" — Luke 2:1-4. Mary was pregnant yet not married — Matthew 2:18-19; see also Mark 6:3, where Jesus was known even as an adult as "son of Mary" — which is probably why no family in Bethlehem gave them a place to stay.
[3] Matthew 2:1-18.
[4] While the Jewish Ruling council, called the Sanhedrin, with the backing of the High Priest family of Annas and Caiaphas, handed Jesus over to be crucified — Matthew 26:57-68 and John 18:12-23, only Rome had the legal authority to execute Jesus.
[5] Some have balked at calling Jesus our older brother or big brother, but the Scriptures clearly indicate that the Lord gladly fills that role in our spiritual lives — Romans 8:9, 14-17, 29; Hebrews 2:14-18.
[6] John 3:3-7 talks about being born of the Spirit, and Titus 3:3-7 emphasizes that we are born anew by the Spirit, and Jesus pours the Spirit on us when we are reborn. See also 1 Corinthians 6:8-11
[7] Mark 14:32-36; Romans 8:9; 14-17.
[8] Romans 8:9-39, especially Romans 8:26-27 that emphasizes the Holy Spirit's intercession for us as God's children.

Today's Prayer

Abba Father, thank You for Your amazing love and great sacrifice that enabled me to become Your child. Thank You, Jesus, for all You did and endured to make my adoption into Your family possible. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for giving me new birth into the living reality of being born into God's family. Almighty God, I thank You for Your love, mercy, grace, and plan that have brought me to You. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 3:3-7; Titus 3:3-7
  • Romans 8:1-39

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Illustration

Illustration of John 1:9-13 NLT — The one who is the true light [Jesus Christ], who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn — not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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