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I. IN WHAT SENSE HE CAME TO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT. He came as the long-expected Messiah (Haggai 2:7; John 4:26), answering all the characters given Him as such in the Old Testament.

1. He came as Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 35:4; Isaiah 40:9, 10). His testimony to this effect was confirmed by exercising the authority of God —

(1)  by forgiving sins (Matthew 9:2);

(2)  by healing the sick (Matthew 8:3);

(3)  by raising the dead (Mark 5:41; John 11:43),

(4)  by calming the storm (Mark 4:39).But so far were His own from receiving Him that they accounted Him a "sinner" (John 9:24), a "deceiver" (Matthew 27:63), "mad" and possessed of the "devil" (John 10:20).

2. He came as the Prophet like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), whom He resembled in many things. But they rejected Him because His doctrine contradicted their prejudices, censured their vices, and laid a restraint on their dominant lusts.

3. He came as High Priest and Mediator between God and man, typified by Aaron; but they, depending on being Abraham's seed, on circumcision, the priesthood, and expiations of their law, received Him not.

4. He came as Redeemer and Saviour (Isaiah 59:20; Isaiah 42:6, 7), but not seeing their want of redemption (chap. John 8:33), and having no desire for spiritual blessings, they received Him not.

5. He came as King (Psalm 2:6; Jeremiah 23:5, 6; Zechariah 9:9), to rescue them from their enemies, and govern them with good laws. But as His kingdom was not of this world they rejected Him (John 19:13, 15; John 18:40, Luke 19:14).

II. IN WHAT SENSE IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE SHOULD RECEIVE HIM We receive His name, and therefore receive Him by profession; the Scriptures, as declaring His will; His ordinances: but do we receive Him in all the offices and characters He sustains?

1. Acknowledging Him as a Divine Teacher, do we learn and practise His precepts?

2. Acknowledging that He is Mediator, do we rely on His atonement and intercession?

3. Confessing Him to be all-sufficient Redeemer, do we glorify Him in our body and spirit, which are His?

4. Do we in reality as well as in profession receive Him as our King? It is implied in these questions that we received

(1)  His doctrine as the rule of our faith, experience, and practice;

(2)  His merits as the ground of our confidence;

(3)  His Spirit, without which we are none of His;

(4)  His example as our pattern;

(5)  His exaltation as the ultimate object of our desire.

III. THE GREAT PRIVILEGE THEY ATTAIN WHO RECEIVE HIM

1. They are unspeakably near to Him as made sons of God by regeneration (John 5:1).

2. They are dear to Him above all others. They are favoured with access to Him, taken under His protection, and assured of a great reward.

(J. Benson.)

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KJV: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

WEB: He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.