Testimony of the true light

 John 1:6-9

 Introduction:   

The apostle John introduces another man, sent from God to bear witness. This is John the Baptist. This John was sent by God for a special purpose (Malachi 3:1). To bear witness of the light. He was not the light but just a witness so that all through him might believe. He had the same goal like the apostle John, so that all may believe the true light.

   1)      A faithful witness or messenger

A true messenger’s work is to pass on the message. As all prophets, John the Baptist did not call attention to himself. He came to announce the coming of one after him (John 3:25-36, 5:33-35). His aim was for people to believe in Jesus Christ not him.

   2)      What was he bearing witness to?

That Jesus is the light that proceeded from God. Jesus is the only true light because that’s the only one who was sent directly from God. So Jesus cannot be compared with Moses or Elijah and John himself. Jesus was not one in a succession of prophets or sons of God whom God has sent into the world. He is the only Son of God who came from God to reveal to man the one true God.

   3)      John the Baptist confessed that Jesus is the Christ

In John 1:20 he says “I am not the Christ”. When the Jews asked him “Who are you?”. The name Jew at the time when John wrote this gospel referred to the disobedient Jews of the Israelite nation.

Surely, the Sanhedrin had sent these guys to inquire of John in the wilderness as multitudes were following him to hear what he was preaching in the wilderness. The man who wore camel’s hair clothing and ate locusts (Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-20)

Many preachers today with pride would love to be called Bishop, apostle, papa, etc and some go as far as giving their pictures for the people to hang around. They call the attention to them rather than pointing to the cross of Jesus that saves.

John the Baptist said I am not the Christ! I am not Elijah and I am not the prophet.

a.       From Malachi 4:5 Israel was looking for the one who will come in the spirit and power of Elijah. Some thought Elijah would be resurrected literally to be the forefunner of the Messiah. So John the Baptist gave them a literal answer to the literal question. But the truth is that John the Baptist was the fulfilment of Malachi 4:5; which meant that John came with the zeal of Elijah and the power of a prophet among the people (Mtt 11:14, 17:10-13, Lk 1:17). John the Baptist refused to call the attention to him but Christ, and so he was not deviated from his goal. He did not go ahead to explain the details to them so that they see him and the forerunner or a prophet. He pointed to Christ! Many people were looking for a messiah who would restore the physical kingdom and so the misunderstanding of the prophecy will also hinder them from seeing the true light, the messiah.

b.      John said he was not the prophet. This is in reference to Deuteronomy 18:15-18. Israel was looking for the prophet whom Moses said would come after him. After Moses, there were many prophets but the one that was like unto him was Jesus. That is why in John 6:14, the people said this is the prophet who is to came when they saw Jesus’ miracles (John 7:40, Act 3:19-23, 7:37)

So Moses was prophesying of a specific prophet, not a succession of prophets who would come after him. Jesus is the fulfilment of that prophecy. You now understand why John the Baptist said I am not the prophet; but he was a prophet.

Application:

We are called to proclaim how Jesus called us into his marvelous light. How we obtained His mercy.

·         The prophets faithfully bore witness of the light

·         The followers of Christ (apostles and early disciples)

What about us today?

Do we bear witness of the light by our unity with one another?

Do we bear witness of the light through transformed lives?

Do we bear witness of the light through proclaiming the word?

The purpose of bearing witness is for others to believe in Jesus Christ. Do we help or hinder those around us from believing?

Do not quench God’s effort to bring many into the marvelous light.

2Cor 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”.

Eph 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

Shalom!