John 1:10
Verse
Context
Sermons
Willie Mullan
Bill McLeod
Mariano Di Gangi
Leonard Ravenhill
Phil Beach Jr.
J.C. RyleSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He was in the world - From its very commencement - he governed the universe - regulated his Church - spake by his prophets - and often, as the angel or messenger of Jehovah, appeared to them, and to the patriarchs. The world knew him not - Αυτον ουκ εγνω - Did not acknowledge him; for the Jewish rulers knew well enough that he was a teacher come from God; but they did not choose to acknowledge him as such. Men love the world, and this love hinders them from knowing him who made it, though he made it only to make himself known. Christ, by whom all things were made, Joh 1:3, and by whom all things are continually supported, Col 1:16, Col 1:17; Heb 1:3, has way every where, is continually manifesting himself by his providence and by his grace, and yet the foolish heart of man regardeth it not! See the reason, Joh 3:19 (note).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
He was in the world, &c.--The language here is nearly as wonderful as the thought. Observe its compact simplicity, its sonorousness--"the world" resounding in each of its three members--and the enigmatic form in which it is couched, startling the reader and setting his ingenuity a-working to solve the stupendous enigma of Christ ignored in His own world. "The world," in the first two clauses, plainly means the created world, into which He came, says Joh 1:9; "in it He was," says this verse. By His Incarnation, He became an inhabitant of it, and bound up with it. Yet it "was made by Him" (Joh 1:3-5). Here, then, it is merely alluded to, in contrast partly with His being in it, but still more with the reception He met with from it. "The world that knew Him not" (Jo1 3:1) is of course the intelligent world of mankind. (See on Joh 1:11-12). Taking the first two clauses as one statement, we try to apprehend it by thinking of the infant Christ conceived in the womb and born in the arms of His own creature, and of the Man Christ Jesus breathing His own air, treading His own ground, supported by substances to which He Himself gave being, and the Creator of the very men whom He came to save. But the most vivid commentary on this entire verse will be got by tracing (in His matchless history) Him of whom it speaks walking amidst all the elements of nature, the diseases of men and death itself, the secrets of the human heart, and "the rulers of the darkness of this world" in all their number, subtlety, and malignity, not only with absolute ease, as their conscious Lord, but, as we might say, with full consciousness on their part of the presence of their Maker, whose will to one and all of them was law. And this is He of whom it is added, "the world knew Him not!"
John Gill Bible Commentary
He was in the world,.... This is to be understood, not of his incarnation; for the word was denotes past existence in the world, even all the time past from the creation of the world; and the world intends the world in general, as opposed to Judea, and the people of the Jews in the next verse; besides, the incarnation of the word is spoken of in Joh 1:14 as a new and distinct thing from this: but of his being in the world, when first made, and since, by his essence, by which he fills the whole world; and by his power, upholding and preserving it; and by his providence, ordering and managing all the affairs of it, and influencing and governing all things in it: he was in it as the light and life of it, giving natural life and light to creatures in it, and filling it, and them, with various blessings of goodness; and he was in the promise and type before, as well as after the Jews were distinguished from other nations, as his peculiar people; and he was frequently visible in the world, in an human form, before his incarnation, as in Eden's garden to our first parents, to Abraham, Jacob, Manoah, and his wife, and others, And the world was made by him: so Philo the Jew often ascribes the making of the world to the Logos, or word, as before observed on Joh 1:3 and this regards the whole universe, and all created beings in it, and therefore cannot design the new creation: besides, if all men in the world were anew created by Christ, they would know him; for a considerable branch of the new creation lies in knowledge; whereas, in the very next clause, it is asserted, that the world knew him not; and they would also love him, and obey him, which the generality of the world do not; they would appear to be in him, and so not be condemned by him, as multitudes will. To understand this of the old creation, best suits the context, and proves the deity of Christ, and his pre-existence, as the word, and Son of God, to his incarnation, And the world knew him not; that is, the inhabitants of the world knew him not as their Creator: nor did they acknowledge the mercies they received from him; nor did they worship, serve, and obey him, or love and fear him; nor did they, the greater part of them, know him as the Messiah, Mediator, Saviour, and Redeemer. There was, at first, a general knowledge of Christ throughout the world among all the sons of Adam, after the first promise of him, and which, for a while, continued; but this, in process of time, being neglected and slighted, it was forgot, and utterly lost, as to the greater part of mankind; for the Gentiles, for many hundreds of years, as they knew not the true God, so they were without Christ, without any notion of the Messiah; and this their ignorance, as it was first their sin, became their punishment.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:10 The world cannot recognize the true light even when it encounters its Creator. The world lives in rebellion, loving darkness more than light (3:19).
John 1:10
The Witness of John
9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(John) His Own Followers Believers
By Willie Mullan1.5K1:10:31Followers Of ChristMAT 6:33JHN 1:10JHN 6:5JHN 10:14JHN 13:1JHN 13:14In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet as a demonstration of humility and servanthood. The preacher emphasizes the significance of Jesus removing his garment and taking on the appearance of a slave to wash the disciples' feet. This act of washing symbolizes the spiritual cleansing that Jesus provides. The preacher also highlights the importance of following Jesus' example and serving others with humility. The sermon concludes by emphasizing the unlimited knowledge of Jesus as portrayed in the Gospel of John.
Saved - Then What?
By Bill McLeod1.1K22:17SanctificationISA 55:7AMO 4:12MRK 1:15MRK 16:16JHN 1:10ACT 2:38HEB 9:27In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the unknown, as we do not know when God will call us away or when Christ will return. The speaker references various parables, such as the parable of the ten virgins, to illustrate the need for readiness and accountability before God. The sermon highlights that every Christian will have to give an account of their life before God, and while this does not affect salvation, it is still crucial. The speaker urges believers to live as full-time Christians, shining the love of God and sharing the message of Christ with others.
The Appearing of Resurrection and the Giving of Power
By Newman Sze8201:22:11MAT 28:1MAT 28:19MRK 16:15LUK 24:44JHN 20:19JHN 21:25In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the 40 days that Jesus spent on earth after His resurrection. He explains that during this time, Jesus trained His disciples to shift their focus from external things to internal revelation, from the flesh to the Holy Spirit, and from the law to life. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about a turbulent airplane ride to illustrate the need for Christians to rise above fear and rely on the Holy Spirit. He concludes by urging the audience to prioritize their personal encounter with the Lord and the experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
I John - We Shall Be Like Him
By Mariano Di Gangi27126:29SanctificationMAT 6:33JHN 1:10PHP 2:121JN 3:11JN 3:10In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the hope and anticipation of the future destiny that awaits believers. He shares a personal anecdote about being commissioned to paint a mural in a church and the challenges he faced during the process. The speaker then highlights three things that believers know about their future: that Jesus will appear, that there are things about their destiny that are yet to be revealed, and that God always keeps His promises. The sermon concludes with a reminder of the responsibility believers have to purify themselves in preparation for their eventual encounter with Jesus.
Colossians 1
By Leonard Ravenhill621:03:48The Preeminence of ChristRedemption and ReconciliationColossiansJHN 1:10ROM 14:11COL 1:12HEB 1:2REV 1:8Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the centrality of Christ in all aspects of life and history, as illustrated in Colossians 1. He highlights that everything was created by Him and for Him, and that true redemption and reconciliation come through His blood. Ravenhill critiques the modern world's reliance on knowledge and power, contrasting it with the eternal significance of Christ's sacrifice and His role as the head of the church. He urges believers to recognize that Christianity is fundamentally about a personal relationship with Christ, who is the source of hope and glory. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper understanding of Christ's majesty and the importance of making Him the center of our lives.
To as Many as Received Him
By Phil Beach Jr.2941:42Trusting GodJesusReceiving ChristJHN 1:101PE 5:7Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes God's deep longing for a relationship with us, urging believers to cast their burdens upon Him and trust in His guidance. He reflects on the darkness and chaos of our lives, paralleling the creation story in Genesis with the light brought by Jesus in the Gospel of John. The preacher highlights the tragedy of rejecting God's invitation to receive Him, reminding us that true fulfillment comes from allowing Christ to reign in our hearts. He calls for a present and active reception of God's word and guidance in our lives, stressing the importance of ongoing repentance and submission to Jesus as King.
John 3:16
By J.C. Ryle0God's LoveUniversal SalvationEZK 33:11JHN 1:10JHN 3:16JHN 6:32JHN 8:12ROM 3:191TI 2:4TIT 3:42PE 3:91JN 2:2J.C. Ryle emphasizes the profound truth of John 3:16, illustrating that God's love extends to all humanity, not just the Jewish nation, and that the gift of His only begotten Son is a universal offer of salvation. He challenges the notion that God's love is limited to the elect, arguing instead that it encompasses every person, regardless of their background, and is rooted in compassion rather than mere approval. Ryle highlights the significance of the word 'so' in the verse, indicating the depth and magnitude of God's love for a fallen world. He asserts that this love is not only real but essential for understanding God's character and His desire for all to come to repentance and faith. Ultimately, Ryle's message is a call to recognize the inclusive nature of God's love and the invitation to eternal life through belief in Christ.
Zephaniah 3:14
By Chuck Smith0God's LoveJoy in the KingdomPSA 32:7PSA 147:11ISA 9:6ZEP 3:14MAT 11:28LUK 19:38JHN 1:10ROM 8:381JN 4:18REV 21:3Chuck Smith explores Zephaniah 3:14, emphasizing the joy and celebration that will accompany the coming Kingdom Age when God dwells among His people. He highlights the response of the people, which includes singing and rejoicing, as they experience the removal of judgment and the casting out of enemies. Smith describes God as mighty and loving, rejoicing over His people with joy and singing, illustrating the depth of His love and the peace that comes from resting in it. He encourages believers to recognize the perfect love of Jesus, which casts out fear and brings joy, and to anticipate the joy of being loved by God in a personal way. The sermon culminates in the beautiful image of Jesus singing love songs to His people, a reflection of the intimate relationship believers can have with Him.
Christ's World of Nature
By A.W. Tozer0Harmony with NatureChrist's CreationJOB 12:7PSA 104:24ISA 55:12MAT 2:1MAT 6:26MRK 1:13LUK 2:8JHN 1:10ROM 1:20COL 1:16A.W. Tozer emphasizes that Jesus Christ entered our world at the perfect time, and while His own people rejected Him, nature welcomed Him. He illustrates how the star guided the wise men and how the animals in Bethlehem were unbothered by His presence, suggesting that all of creation recognized its Creator. Tozer references Dr. G. Campbell Morgan's belief that Jesus was safe among the wild beasts during His temptation, highlighting that Jesus was in complete harmony with nature. The sermon concludes with the idea that a deeper commitment to Christ leads to a greater connection with the natural world.
John 1:9-10
By St. John Chrysostom0MAT 6:24MAT 6:33LUK 10:24LUK 17:25JHN 1:10John Chrysostom emphasizes that Jesus, referred to as the true Light, enlightens every person who enters the world, shedding grace upon all without discrimination. He addresses the ignorance of many towards Christ, attributing it to their own wickedness and willful rejection of the Light. Chrysostom highlights the importance of detaching from worldly desires and serving God wholeheartedly, contrasting the consequences of serving Mammon with the blessings of following Christ's teachings.
John 1:11
By St. John Chrysostom0PRO 16:5JHN 1:10ROM 3:23ROM 11:71TI 3:6John Chrysostom preaches about the rejection of Jesus by His own people, highlighting the blindness and pride that led to their unbelief despite witnessing miracles and hearing the words of the prophets. He emphasizes the contrast between the Jews, who rejected Christ, and the Gentiles, who embraced Him through faith, showing that salvation is freely offered to all. Chrysostom warns against the dangers of pride, explaining how envy and arrogance can lead to a hardened heart and separation from God's lovingkindness, urging humility and gratitude for God's grace.
The Unknown One
By H.J. Vine0JHN 1:10JHN 4:48JHN 6:9JHN 8:191JN 2:31JN 5:20H.J. Vine preaches about the unknown One, Jesus Christ, who knew all men and all things, yet was unrecognized by the world He created. Despite performing miraculous signs and revealing God's love and light, many remained in darkness, not recognizing Him. Jesus, the true Light, displayed His power through various acts of grace, demonstrating His authority over sickness, hunger, death, and darkness. Although rejected by some, those who believed in Him became children of God, experiencing His forgiveness, compassion, and life-transforming power.
Love Not the World
By Horatius Bonar0WorldlinessEternal PerspectiveMAT 16:25JHN 1:10JHN 7:7JHN 14:27JHN 17:9JHN 17:161CO 1:20GAL 6:14JAS 4:41JN 2:15Horatius Bonar emphasizes the dangers of loving the world, warning that its gain leads to the loss of the soul and that friendship with the world is enmity against God. He highlights that the world does not recognize or love Christ, and that believers are called to be separate from it, as it is ruled by Satan and filled with wickedness. Bonar urges Christians to focus on eternal treasures rather than the fleeting pleasures of this world, reminding them that their true home lies in the kingdom to come.
The World
By Thomas Bradbury0LUK 18:9JHN 1:10JHN 3:16JHN 15:17JHN 17:8ACT 5:20ACT 11:14ROM 1:81CO 7:311JN 2:1Thomas Bradbury preaches on the profound love of God as demonstrated in John 3:16, emphasizing the necessity of being born again to understand divine truth and experience salvation through Jesus Christ. He delves into the significance of the term 'the world,' refuting the misconception that it refers to all mankind, and instead reveals its various contextual meanings in Scripture. Bradbury highlights the exclusivity of God's love for His chosen ones, contrasting it with the world's enmity towards God, and underscores the divine purpose of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down all barriers through Christ.
A Place for the Lord
By Chip Brogden0MAT 8:20MAT 18:20MAT 26:7LUK 5:15LUK 10:38LUK 24:50JHN 1:10JHN 4:23REV 3:20Chip Brogden preaches about the importance of preparing a place for the Lord Jesus, emphasizing the need to welcome Him, hear His Word, give Him preeminence, recognize His worth, manifest Resurrection Life, celebrate Him, and have an ascendant spirit. He highlights how many gatherings fall short of meeting the Lord's Need, urging believers to be a place where the Lord finds satisfaction and heart-rest, focusing on spirit-and-truth worship and communion with Him.
Not the Way It Should Have Been
By Marcus Dods0PSA 24:1ISA 55:6MAT 7:7JHN 1:10JHN 14:17Marcus Dods reflects on the profound truth that despite Jesus being the Creator of the world, when He came to earth, the world did not recognize Him. The sermon delves into the missed opportunity of the Roman Empire to welcome their true Sovereign and the lack of preparation for His arrival. It highlights the irony of the world not acknowledging the very One who made it, emphasizing the need for humanity to open their hearts to receive and know Him.
Live in Peace, All My Dear Babes of God
By George Fox0MAT 5:11JHN 1:10GAL 5:22COL 3:151PE 3:8George Fox preaches about living in peace and unity with one another, emphasizing the importance of patience in obtaining victory and the crown. He encourages believers to live in purity, listening to the witness of the Lord God within each person. By staying in the seed and life of the Lord God, one can experience His blessings and presence. Fox reminds the congregation to stand in the truth that reveals their sins and leads them to their Savior, who existed before the world began. He urges them to dwell in the seed of God, allowing it to reign in their lives and empower them to endure persecution for Christ's sake with joy and patience.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
He was in the world - From its very commencement - he governed the universe - regulated his Church - spake by his prophets - and often, as the angel or messenger of Jehovah, appeared to them, and to the patriarchs. The world knew him not - Αυτον ουκ εγνω - Did not acknowledge him; for the Jewish rulers knew well enough that he was a teacher come from God; but they did not choose to acknowledge him as such. Men love the world, and this love hinders them from knowing him who made it, though he made it only to make himself known. Christ, by whom all things were made, Joh 1:3, and by whom all things are continually supported, Col 1:16, Col 1:17; Heb 1:3, has way every where, is continually manifesting himself by his providence and by his grace, and yet the foolish heart of man regardeth it not! See the reason, Joh 3:19 (note).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
He was in the world, &c.--The language here is nearly as wonderful as the thought. Observe its compact simplicity, its sonorousness--"the world" resounding in each of its three members--and the enigmatic form in which it is couched, startling the reader and setting his ingenuity a-working to solve the stupendous enigma of Christ ignored in His own world. "The world," in the first two clauses, plainly means the created world, into which He came, says Joh 1:9; "in it He was," says this verse. By His Incarnation, He became an inhabitant of it, and bound up with it. Yet it "was made by Him" (Joh 1:3-5). Here, then, it is merely alluded to, in contrast partly with His being in it, but still more with the reception He met with from it. "The world that knew Him not" (Jo1 3:1) is of course the intelligent world of mankind. (See on Joh 1:11-12). Taking the first two clauses as one statement, we try to apprehend it by thinking of the infant Christ conceived in the womb and born in the arms of His own creature, and of the Man Christ Jesus breathing His own air, treading His own ground, supported by substances to which He Himself gave being, and the Creator of the very men whom He came to save. But the most vivid commentary on this entire verse will be got by tracing (in His matchless history) Him of whom it speaks walking amidst all the elements of nature, the diseases of men and death itself, the secrets of the human heart, and "the rulers of the darkness of this world" in all their number, subtlety, and malignity, not only with absolute ease, as their conscious Lord, but, as we might say, with full consciousness on their part of the presence of their Maker, whose will to one and all of them was law. And this is He of whom it is added, "the world knew Him not!"
John Gill Bible Commentary
He was in the world,.... This is to be understood, not of his incarnation; for the word was denotes past existence in the world, even all the time past from the creation of the world; and the world intends the world in general, as opposed to Judea, and the people of the Jews in the next verse; besides, the incarnation of the word is spoken of in Joh 1:14 as a new and distinct thing from this: but of his being in the world, when first made, and since, by his essence, by which he fills the whole world; and by his power, upholding and preserving it; and by his providence, ordering and managing all the affairs of it, and influencing and governing all things in it: he was in it as the light and life of it, giving natural life and light to creatures in it, and filling it, and them, with various blessings of goodness; and he was in the promise and type before, as well as after the Jews were distinguished from other nations, as his peculiar people; and he was frequently visible in the world, in an human form, before his incarnation, as in Eden's garden to our first parents, to Abraham, Jacob, Manoah, and his wife, and others, And the world was made by him: so Philo the Jew often ascribes the making of the world to the Logos, or word, as before observed on Joh 1:3 and this regards the whole universe, and all created beings in it, and therefore cannot design the new creation: besides, if all men in the world were anew created by Christ, they would know him; for a considerable branch of the new creation lies in knowledge; whereas, in the very next clause, it is asserted, that the world knew him not; and they would also love him, and obey him, which the generality of the world do not; they would appear to be in him, and so not be condemned by him, as multitudes will. To understand this of the old creation, best suits the context, and proves the deity of Christ, and his pre-existence, as the word, and Son of God, to his incarnation, And the world knew him not; that is, the inhabitants of the world knew him not as their Creator: nor did they acknowledge the mercies they received from him; nor did they worship, serve, and obey him, or love and fear him; nor did they, the greater part of them, know him as the Messiah, Mediator, Saviour, and Redeemer. There was, at first, a general knowledge of Christ throughout the world among all the sons of Adam, after the first promise of him, and which, for a while, continued; but this, in process of time, being neglected and slighted, it was forgot, and utterly lost, as to the greater part of mankind; for the Gentiles, for many hundreds of years, as they knew not the true God, so they were without Christ, without any notion of the Messiah; and this their ignorance, as it was first their sin, became their punishment.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:10 The world cannot recognize the true light even when it encounters its Creator. The world lives in rebellion, loving darkness more than light (3:19).