…did not receive him.

John 1:11

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:11 (NIV)

Jesus not only came to the world and the world did not even recognize Him (John 1:10), he came to His own, and they did not receive Him.

One possibility of this passage is that He came to His own land and his own people did not receive Him. So Jesus comes home and no one receives Him.

The Greek word for “receive” is paralambanó. This word is made up of two words, pará and lambánō. Pará means “close beside” while lambánō means “properly, to lay hold by aggressively (actively) accepting what is available (offered)”. The implication here is that they did not actively accept what was freely offered.

Jesus was among them. He was the fulfillment of the Jewish scriptures, yet they didn’t receive Him.

For one reason or another, God’s own, His chosen people, the nation of Israel, chose NOT to follow Jesus. They had every opportunity and did not.

We are presented with similar opportunities. How do we respond? Do we passively ignore this gift or do we actively receive Christ?

The act of receiving is very personal. You cannot receive for anyone but yourself. I cannot receive Christ for any friends, family, neighbors or anyone else. My task is to help others as they seek Christ. I can help find answers to their questions but they hold sole responsibility for their response.

You may be the only “Jesus” people see! Let them see Him through you!

Be refreshed!