Sunday 4 January 2026
But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. (v. 12)
Background
At the heart of the prologue to John's Gospel is a remarkable promise: those who receive Jesus Christ are given the power, or more precisely the right, to become children of God (v. 12). This is not a status we hold by nature, but a gift rooted in God’s initiative and generosity. As New Testament scholar CK Barrett notes, for John, life itself is always a gift from God.
John is careful with language here. He uses the Greek word tekna (children) to describe those who believe, while reserving huios (son) exclusively for Jesus. We are not sons and daughters in the same way that Jesus is God's son. But we are truly, meaningfully, God’s children.
And this is not a distant hope – it is a present reality. A verse in one of John’s companion texts, 1 John 3:2, makes it clear: “Beloved, we are God’s children now.” The transformation begins the moment Christ is received.
The theme of divine abundance, so prominent throughout John’s Gospel and explored in last year’s Bible Month, is already present here. From God’s fullness, we receive grace upon grace: an overflowing generosity that not only forgives but adopts; not only welcomes but empowers.
This passage invites us to receive the gift of Christ with open hearts, and to live now, today, as God’s beloved children.
To Ponder:
- What difference does it make to you that becoming a child of God is a gift and not something earned or a natural right?
- In what ways is being a 'child of God' a present reality for you, and how might that impact your daily life?
Prayer
Generous God, thank you for the gift of grace that makes us your children. Help us to live each day in that reality; welcomed, loved and empowered to share your goodness with the world. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Andy Fishburne
Andy is a Discipleship and Faith Formation Officer for the Methodist Church in Britain. He works to support individuals and communities in deepening their life of faith and discipleship, helping people explore what it means to live A Methodist Way of Life. His role includes developing resources and encouraging creative approaches to faith formation across the Connexion.