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John 1:11
He came to His own means "He came to His own home." It can indicate that "He came to His own people" or "He came to His own town," but certainly, the connotation is that He came among those who were His. It did not matter who it was, whether it was His own family (His own brothers did not believe in Him; John 7:5), His own race of people (the Jews certainly rejected Him), or anyone on earth, except those who accepted Him. Everybody rejected Him. Even His own disciples abandoned Him at the last moment.
John W. Ritenbaugh
John (Part Three)Related Topics: Came to His Own | Jesus Christ, Abandoned by Disciples | Jesus Christ, Despised and Rejected by All Mankind | Jesus Christ, Rejected by His Family | Jesus Christ, Rejected by His People | Rejection of God's Son
John 1:11-13
Just because we see does not mean that we will believe because there is a spiritual aspect to this sort of seeing and believing. This passage indicates that "His own" showed not even a flash of recognition as to His true identity.
Consider the incongruity of this. We frequently hear of personalities in the public eye affecting some kind of a mode of dress or lifestyle that will set them apart and make them instantly recognizable. In this regard, compare Jesus Christ, the most unique Personality that ever lived in the history of mankind! He was a one-of-a-kind, the only human who ever lived life sinlessly. Yet, even those of His generation who saw Him could not identify Him, God in the flesh!
This suggests that one must be predisposed to believe, to have the ability to "see." It is interesting to note that, to those who exercised this faith, "He gave the power [right, authority, ability] to become the children of God" (verse 12). Only those who "see" and then "receive" Christ can enter into a relationship with God that results in nothing less than the creation of a new being.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Do You See God? (Part One)Related Topics: Belief | Children of God | Receiving Jesus Christ | Recognition of God | Relationship with God | Seeing GodOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing John 1:11:
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What Does John 1:11 Mean?
He came to His own, meaning His home, people, or town, among those who were His, including family, race, and others, yet all rejected Him, with even disciples abandoning Him at the last moment. His own showed no recognition of His true identity as God in the flesh, despite His unique, sinless life. They were not familiar enough with Old Testament descriptions to recognize Him, being deceived by expectations of a conquering king and a spiritually deadly blend of Scripture with pagan beliefs, Greek philosophy, and traditions, hardening their hearts. Only those predisposed to exercise faith and receive Him gained the power to become children of God, creating a new being.