When God Moved In - Week 3
John 1:9–13
I. The Arrival of the True Light
“The true light…”
Throughout history, people had trusted imitation lights:
- Kings who promised peace but delivered oppression
- Wealth that promised security but left emptiness
- Religious systems that promised righteousness but couldn’t change hearts
These lights glimmered, but they never lasted.
False lights:
- Golden calf (Exodus 32) — visible, controllable “light”
- Kings like Saul — impressive outwardly, empty inwardly
- Idols repeatedly condemned by the prophets — “they promise, but they do not deliver”
Modern false lights:
- Success, money, romance, identity, politics, self-expression
- Things we look to for meaning, hope, or rescue—but that eventually go dark
V.9b “Which gives light to everyone”
- Not universal salvation, but universal illumination.
V.9c “Was coming into the world”
- After 400 years of silence, the light was finally arriving.
II. The Tragedy: The Light Unseen and Rejected (vv. 10–11)
- v.10 — “He was in the world… yet the world did not recognize Him”
- They didn’t recognize His arrival
- They didn’t recognize what creation had already revealed about Him
Familiarity can blind us to glory.
v.11 — “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him”
Why the rejection?
Their expectations reshaped the Messiah:
- Political liberator
- Military hero
- National restorer
They wanted a Messiah who fit their vision, not a Savior who confronted their hearts.
III. The Miracle: The Light Received (vv. 12–13)
- v.12 — “Yet to all who did receive Him…”
- Acts 4:12
- v.12b — “He gave them the right to become children of God”
Receiving Jesus doesn’t just change your beliefs—it changes your family.
v.13 — “Not of natural descent… nor human decision… but born of God”
John removes every possible misunderstanding:
- Not heritage (“natural descent”)
- Not effort (“human decision”)
- Not manipulation (“husband’s will”)
Salvation is not achieved—it is received.
- This is new birth, not self-improvement.
- Christmas is not about trying harder—it’s about being made new.
IV. Born of God: From Christmas to New Birth (John 3 Connection)
Nicodemus had:
- Knowledge
- Morality
- Religion
But Jesus told him, “You must be born again.”
John 1 explains what John 3 illustrates.
New life comes:
- From God
- By grace
- Through faith
Revelation 3:20
Have you..
- Admired the light…
- Studied the light…
- Sung about the light…
But never received the light?
Will you receive Him?
Small Group Discussion Questions
(John 1:9–13 — “The True Light Has Come”)
1. False Lights
John calls Jesus the “true light,” implying other lights exist.
What are some false lights people are tempted to trust today?
Which of those do you personally find most tempting—and why?
2. Light for Everyone
John says the true light “gives light to everyone.”
What do you think people are really searching for when they seek truth, meaning, or purpose?
How have you seen Jesus meet those longings in your own life (or someone else’s)?
3. Missed and Rejected
The world didn’t recognize Jesus, and His own people rejected Him.
Why do you think familiarity or expectations can make it hard to recognize God’s work?
In what ways can we subtly reshape Jesus to fit our preferences?
4. Receiving Christ
John contrasts knowing about Jesus with receiving Him.
What’s the difference between admiring Jesus and trusting Him?
How would you explain “receiving Christ” to someone new to faith?
5. New Birth
John says becoming a child of God is not earned but given.
Why is it hard for people to accept salvation as a gift rather than something achieved?
How does seeing yourself as a child of God reshape how you view your past, present, and future?
Three-Day Devotional
Theme: Receiving the True Light
Day 1 — The Light We Long For
Read: John 1:9 - “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”
Reflection: Every human heart longs for light—clarity, hope, meaning. We often look for it in success, relationships, or security. These things promise brightness but fade quickly. John reminds us that Jesus is not a light among many—He is the true light.
Questions to Reflect On: Where have I looked for light apart from Christ? What has promised fulfillment but failed to deliver?
Prayer: “Jesus, reveal where I’ve trusted lesser lights. Help me turn toward You as the true light of my life.”
Day 2 — Rejected or Received
Read: John 1:10–12 - “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him…”
Reflection: It’s possible to be close to Jesus—and still miss Him. Many recognized His name but resisted His authority. Receiving Jesus means more than admiration; it means trust and surrender.
Questions to Reflect On: Do I know about Jesus, or have I truly received Him? What expectations or assumptions might keep me from fully trusting Him?
Prayer: “Lord, I don’t want to just know about You. I want to receive You fully. Open my heart to trust You.”
Day 3 — Born of God
Read: John 1:12–13; John 3:3 - “To all who did receive Him… He gave the right to become children of God.”
Reflection: Becoming a child of God is not about effort, heritage, or willpower—it is about new birth. Jesus offers not self-improvement, but transformation. Christmas celebrates not just Christ’s birth—but the possibility of ours.
Questions to Reflect On: What does it mean to live as a child of God rather than trying to earn God’s approval? How would my life change if I truly believed I was made new in Christ?
Prayer: “Father, thank You for making me Your child by grace. Help me live today in the freedom of new life.”