Prologue (Part 2): John 1:6-9

John 1:6-9 -- John the Baptist: Witness to the Light

At this point John the Baptist sort of stumbles onto the scene. We’ve been talking about Jesus -- the Logos, the Word, the Wisdom of God -- who was present and active in bringing forth the created order. Now, a new character is introduced, one whose sole purpose was to point people to Christ.

John the Baptizer is a difficult character to grasp and understand based solely on what we learn about him through the Synoptics and through the narratives of Jesus’ baptism. Here, John (the apostle) goes out of his way to explain John’s role.

                

It says first in verse 6 that John was a man “sent from God.” He wasn’t just somebody out on his own self-designated mission, but was set apart by God for his task. His providential beginnings, as recorded in Luke 1, clearly demonstrate God’s hand was with him (1:66, 80).  So we see that John was part of the plan from the beginning.

                

So what was the purpose for which God set apart John? It tells us in verse 7: “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.” Backing up to 1:4-5, we recall that the author is describing Christ as the light shining in the darkness, and that he is the light of all men. Verse 8 tells us clearly that John the Baptist was not that light himself. He came only as a witness to the true light that gives light to every person.

                

And what does a witness do? A witness gives testimony to something seen, heard, or experienced. A witness is only important as he/she relates to the subject in question, and John understands and embraces this role completely (as we will see later in the chapter, and then also in John 3). John’s role was to give testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

                

The last question we must ask relates to the question of “to what end does he testify?” In verse 7, it tells us why John is baptizing and giving testimony of Jesus’ true identity: “so that through him (Christ) all men might believe.” This connects with a later passage in John 20:31, which states that the events and miracles recorded in this gospel account were written so that the reader might believe in Jesus, and thus receive eternal life through him.

SO WHAT?

                I think it’s so easy (at least in my life) to forget that you’re not the main character of your own life story. Your story is ultimately not about you – as believers, we are called by God to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). We are only fulfilling our lives calling, therefore, to the degree that our lives are a sign that points to Christ, so that all may believe him and receive life in his name.