The first chapter of John's gospel paints a beautiful protrait of Christ in His humility and gracious love. Verse 4 of chapter 1 describes Jesus as the Creator of the world: "All things came into being by Him and apart from Him nothing has come into being that has come into being." Then in verse 10, He is referenced as the Creator again: "He was in the world and the world was made by Him..." But then the passage goes on to describe the response of man to the Creator as He walked among them. "And the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him."
Picture the Creator, the Son of God taking on flesh and blood, becoming a man and visiting the world that He had spoken into existence! He had sent advanced notice that He was coming. There had been many prophecies from His spokesmen concerning His arrival, and then the messenger of the King running ahead crying, "Prepare the way for the Lord!"
And yet, no grand reception welcomed Him. He was a stranger to the world. His own people had no place in their hearts for Him. They ignored the proofs of His messiahship, rejected Him, hated Him, and then crucified the One who had made them. Still, their Creator hung there dying on the cross in the place of all those who would turn from their sin and receive, embrace, and believe in Him.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (verse 12)
What humility! The Lord of Heaven set aside His glory to come to Earth and die a criminal's death at the hands of His creation! And what amazing love that He would do all of that to save the ones that He had set His affection on before the foundation of the world was laid. As Chris Tomlin says, "How can I keep from singing Your praise! I can never get enough! How amazing is your love!!!"
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