A Journey Through John — Rejection and Redemption

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:9-13, ESV)

These verses are full of rejection of the true light. The Son of God came into the world and was rejected by it. This astonishing reaction from the world is somewhat ironic because the One rejected is the same One who created everything of and in the world (cf. Col. 1:16). Despite John the Baptist's previous proclamation that Jesus is coming, few listened to him. But because God cares and His grace abounds, the good news is that redemption can overcome that rejection.

However, redemption, according to these verses is contingent upon "receiving" and "believing" the testimony of John the Baptist, namely that Jesus Christ is God. It has nothing to do with your bloodline or lineage. Nothing to do with your flesh or ethnicity, will or ability. Becoming a child of God is contingent on God (v. 13). The wonderful truth about the gospel is that God moves first. Your 'works' are irrelevant unless He moves first. According to this passage, He is the first mover. (This would have been mind-blowing for the original readers of this text, by the way.)

When I ponder this passage further I think about the power that rejection has upon people. I have been rejected and it hurts every time. I can't imagine what it would be like for the creator of the world to be rejected by His own creation. Nonetheless, the One who was rejected is able to empathize, comfort, and console if we allow Him to do so. With rejection in our personal lives comes the ability to be redeemed.

A Journey Through John — Setting the Record Straight

John 1:6-8
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

John, the disciple of Jesus Christ, writes about another John: John the Baptist. This one who baptizes has a unique role in the New Testament which John, the author, needs to bring clarity to. This prophet had garnered a following with his words and facilitated baptisms of repentance (Matt. 3:11). John sets the record straight. Everything that John the Baptist did was to prepare for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth (Matt. 3:2), to prepare for the true light. John was not the light but he was to only testify about the light. Eventually John's role will decrease and the ministry of Jesus will increase.

The purpose of each Christian is not much different than John the Baptist. We are to testify about the true light and we only testify about something we believe in. Sometimes testifying about something you believe results in consequences far more extreme than we anticipate. John was imprisoned and beheaded. The Gospel must have resonated deeply within him. It transformed and renewed John to allow him to bring forth the testimony about Jesus. We must also be prepared to declare the good news. Few people in the United States will see death for their testimony but there are other, social consequences. Perhaps rejection, resentment, and unfair generalizations. Nonetheless, those who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and savior are once again preparing the way of the Lord.

John's role was vital to prepare for Jesus' arrival. God used him prophetically by preparing hearts. Again, the message of the 21st century Christian is no different. Jesus will one day return and we prepare the way.

A Journey Through John — Revelation and Relationship

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.


What immediately strikes me from this passage is the relationship between the Word and God. The preposition "with" describes the relationship between the two objects, Word and God. But being "with" God does not completely tell the story because the Word "was" God. The verb "was" looks back into history suggesting that the Word is not just a reality stuck in a moment, but the Word created (v. 3) everything. 

John builds on the trinitarian formula here. There is a clear distinction between the Word and God, but also an obvious likeness. The potential paradox does not bother John because he continues to affirm the Word to be "life." At this point, John enters man into the discussion. This life being the light of man attempts to build the bridge between God and man (v. 4). Further, the battle that mankind is up against is between darkness and light. But the good news is that the darkness cannot overcome the light (v. 5). 

Passages like John 1:1-5 are highly theological but very important because it tells us who we worship—namely a trinitarian God. As a result, being convinced of who is to be worship informs what we sing, who we pray, and how to connect with God. The Word—Jesus—as the creator of the world (cf. Col. 1:16) is also the light of the world. Therefore, if you find yourself in a dark place, or darkness is all around, Jesus is able to enter in and overcome. There are no limits to the Word's ability to overcome the darkness with light. 

Think about an area in your life which needs more light. Is there something in your soul that needs healing? Allow Jesus to shine.

Yes I said "kerfuffle." Find out why . . .

I have posted the following video, and provided the subsequent links, in hopes to spur Christians on into seeking truth. 

My perspective on this debate is as follows: I believe John MacArthur loves Jesus, and as one author stated, a biography will be written of him. His contribution to the Kingdom of God is immense. However, he does makes statements that, at the very least, infer that Charasmatics and Pentecostals are deceived and perhaps unsaved. Some people will defend MacArthur saying that to make this kind of inference is taking him out of context. Those with Charismatic and Pentecostal sympathies will cry foul. At the very least MacArthur pushes the preverbal envelope.
I've included some links below from both sides if you're interested in checking this out for yourself:

For MacArthur's "Strange Fire" book, click here.

Strange Fire website here.

A blog against MacArthur's view about the Holy Spirit, click here.

Here is someone's take on the accusations against MacArthur. He defends MacArthur and believes some of his statements have been taken out of context.

Here is Pastor Mark Driscoll's invite to MacArthur to attend an upcoming conference.