John 1:6-13

The light revealed- vs 9 fits better with 6-8. John the Baptist appeared on the scene, but he was not the true light. Light meant the ultimate source of meaning and truth. This Logos was the true light. True- not just as opposed to false, but as opposed to counterfeit; the real thing. John the Apostle is drawing out the juxtaposition between the false lights/meaning and the true light. A faction had risen up that liked John the Baptist’s style of hard core calling out of evil and corruption and they put too much hope in him, but he was not the light. We need to make sure that we don’t lift our favorite preacher, writer, etc. up to the place that belongs to Jesus alone. All other things are lesser lights. 

The light rejected- vs 10-11 When John uses the word “world” he uses the word cosmos. This word could be used to mean all of creation, all of human population, or people and systems that are fallen and opposed to God’s rule. Which one does John the Apostle mean? He seems to be talking about the corrupted people and systems of the time. Gentiles as opposed to Jews who had the light and were the conduit of light to the world. John goes a step beyond this and says that his own people who should have recognized him as the light have rejected him. 

The light received- vs 12-13 Anyone can receive him- any people group, then and now. God wants his family to be populated with all people. As inclusive as that is there is also a connection between receiving/believing the light and becoming his children. It is absolutely free. To embrace the light is to accept the fact that Jesus has done everything to give me eternal life. There is nothing I can do to earn it. It is not trust Jesus plus anything. To receive the light is as simple as trust Jesus.