John – Chapter 1:12-14
Introduction: One of the chief themes of the Gospel is that of the new Israel. Who is a true Jew and thus belongs to the authentic, last times (eschatalogical) Israel? This question lies behind the controversy over circumcision (Rom 2, 5; Gal 5) and thus who are true sons of Abraham (Jn 8:31-35). In Baptism the Christian has “received the Spirit of adoptive sonship” (Rom 8:15). John the Baptist is prominent as Baptism is the primary theme of Jn 1:19–4:54: by the Holy Spirit (1:33), from above (3:3), with water and the Spirit (3:5), from God (1:13). Israel is referred to as God’s Son(s) in Ex 4:22-23 and Deut 14:1. Obedience is the mark of sonship and disobedience of forgetting sonship (Deut 13:18; 32:5, 18; Is 1:2-3). Jesus is the Word made flesh. As He is also the true son, for He is the true and perfect expression of the Father’s will, obedient to the Father’s instructions, and reveals the Father (see John 8:28, 8:55, Jn 14:9; jn 12:27-33; 17:4). Therefore the Gospel narrative is an account of true sonship. The life of the baptized is the life of Jesus. To become a child is not a potential, it is the reality given and received by divine begetting (v. 13). “To receive Him” and “to believe in His Name” (v.12) refer to the same thing, as are “to become children of God” and “to be begotten from God” (v.13). v.12 – “To those who believe in His Name” are those disciples who believe He is the Christ and the Son of God and the one who gives eternal life. “His Name” refers to the divine Name (“YHWH”). ἐξουσία “authority” is unfortunately translated as “power.” It is not mere power but power to act under conferral of legitimate authority and within one’s office. It is given, not taken. One cannot choose to become or to be born but it is given under the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3, 5; Rom 8:15). And in John, the gift of the Holy Spirit is connected with Jesus’ death (Jn 3:14, 7:37-38, 19:30, 20:17). v.13 – “not… nor… nor” is strongly apologetic against the false trust of “the Jews” in their lineage from Abraham. “By bloods” may indicate the strong connection thought between the blood of the passover lamb and the blood of circumcision. v.14 – “the Word became flesh and dwelt…