John 1:6-8
…to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
John 1:1-18 is the prologue. The author, the Apostle John, does not begin with the birth of Jesus. Instead, he takes his readers to the source of all things in the universe, to the “beginning”.
In this 18-verse prologue, the author tells of the Word who was in the beginning with God and became flesh. He dwelt in the midst of mankind, which He had made in His own image and likeness. He was that true light, but what He had made did not receive Him. The preceding text says this, “ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not receive the light.” (v 5)
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not receive the light? What kind of condition is this? Does the world love darkness and reject light? Does the world not know that light can end the dominion of darkness and lead man to eternal glory? The truth is that fallen human nature rejects the light and follows Satan, the source of darkness, and is detained in darkness. Satan’s resistance to God does indeed keep the whole earth in darkness, and the minds of men in even greater darkness; as the prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “ (Jeremiah 17:9) But God will not leave mankind, created in His own image, in darkness to perish. He is not silent because of man’s ignorance, but He raises up witnesses to “bear witness about the light.” (v.7) God wants mankind to awaken and be set free from the power and dominion of darkness.
The Scripture says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” (vv. 6-7) As early as 681 B.C., God used the Prophet Isaiah, who was then in his old age, to prophesy. “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” (Isaiah 40:3-4) John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare the hearts of the people, to purify the hearts of the people, to remove all the obstacles that prevented the world from knowing the Lord Jesus; to enable the world to recognize, believe and accept the true light that saves.
John the Baptist was led by the Lord into the wilderness for many years, where he lived in loneliness and poverty.
However, that situation did not destroy his faith and will in the Lord. It was God who moulded and prepared him during that period, so that he would press on to the peak of his spiritual life and became a more suitable vessel for God’s use. He preached the truth and the crowds followed him, but he knew his identity and calling clearly: “He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. “
Response:
John the Baptist spent his life guiding people to the true light. As we enter the year 2025, are we inspired to lead people to the true light?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the Great I Am! Thank You for the true light that gives life. He has lifted us out of darkness, so that we may walk in the light all the days of our lives! Help us see that the true need of fallen humanity is to approach the true light and receive it. Help us, too, to follow John’s example in leading people to the true light! In the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!
John 1:1-18 is the prologue. The author, the Apostle John, does not begin with the birth of Jesus. Instead, he takes his readers to the source of all things in the universe, to the “beginning”.
In this 18-verse prologue, the author tells of the Word who was in the beginning with God and became flesh. He dwelt in the midst of mankind, which He had made in His own image and likeness. He was that true light, but what He had made did not receive Him. The preceding text says this, “ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not receive the light.” (v 5)
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not receive the light? What kind of condition is this? Does the world love darkness and reject light? Does the world not know that light can end the dominion of darkness and lead man to eternal glory? The truth is that fallen human nature rejects the light and follows Satan, the source of darkness, and is detained in darkness. Satan’s resistance to God does indeed keep the whole earth in darkness, and the minds of men in even greater darkness; as the prophet Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “ (Jeremiah 17:9) But God will not leave mankind, created in His own image, in darkness to perish. He is not silent because of man’s ignorance, but He raises up witnesses to “bear witness about the light.” (v.7) God wants mankind to awaken and be set free from the power and dominion of darkness.
The Scripture says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” (vv. 6-7) As early as 681 B.C., God used the Prophet Isaiah, who was then in his old age, to prophesy. “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” (Isaiah 40:3-4) John the Baptist’s mission was to prepare the hearts of the people, to purify the hearts of the people, to remove all the obstacles that prevented the world from knowing the Lord Jesus; to enable the world to recognize, believe and accept the true light that saves.
John the Baptist was led by the Lord into the wilderness for many years, where he lived in loneliness and poverty.
However, that situation did not destroy his faith and will in the Lord. It was God who moulded and prepared him during that period, so that he would press on to the peak of his spiritual life and became a more suitable vessel for God’s use. He preached the truth and the crowds followed him, but he knew his identity and calling clearly: “He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. “
Response:
John the Baptist spent his life guiding people to the true light. As we enter the year 2025, are we inspired to lead people to the true light?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the Great I Am! Thank You for the true light that gives life. He has lifted us out of darkness, so that we may walk in the light all the days of our lives! Help us see that the true need of fallen humanity is to approach the true light and receive it. Help us, too, to follow John’s example in leading people to the true light! In the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!