John the Baptist

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.

He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light (Jn 1:6-8)

In the previous studies we have been looking at the person of Jesus Christ and at the things John the Evangelist says about him in the first five verses. We have learned that Jesus is the Logos, the Lord, the Life, and the Light. Now we want to turn to the second person John mentions-John the Baptist.

But why, all in a sudden, does John interrupt his citation from the Logos song in order to present this second man? What is he really trying to highlight? And why is he doing so? What could be the motivation?

I think that you may easily perceive the main theme of the present text. It is made clear in verse 8 once in a negative statement and again in a positive statement: He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the Light (v8). It is possible that at the Evangelist’s time there were followers of John the Baptist and that they claimed that he was the Light, i.e., the Messiah. This mistake John wants to correct; John the Baptist is a forerunner of our Lord.

The Forerunner

Although most of us tend to overlook the importance of the ministry of John the Baptist, he was certainly a man of charisma (커리즈머) as we find from the synoptic Gospels-<Matthew>, <Mark>, and <Luke>. We read that a number of people went out to see him and hear him, much like they later did to hear the Lord Jesus Christ. This following was so substantial that it even disturbed the religious leaders (the priests; the Levites). So they sent out delegates to investigate John the Baptist’s teaching. Some of them were also convicted, repented, and were baptized as a sign that they had turned from their sins (Mk 1:4-5). In some sense, too, John was the pivot of biblical history. We read in <Luke> that “the Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John” (Lk 16:16). This means that John was the last of the OT prophets and, therefore, the last representative of the old order. After this Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God. John was also the herald of the new dispensation (age). So he earned the praise of the Lord Jesus, who said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Mt 11:11a).

But our Lord also said that “he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist”. This refers to John’s extraordinary humility. Jesus also said that the one who humbles himself shall be exalted, and John certainly did that. He called himself a voice crying in the wilderness. You cannot see a voice; we can only hear it. So it was John’s role and pleasure merely to be the herald of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Like Paul, who came later, John’s sole concern was that Jesus be magnified, whether by his life or his death (Phil 1:19, 20), and in this he was a true and faithful forerunner.

A Witness

John was also known for his ministry of baptism, and for the fact that he baptized the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is quite interesting to find that every reference to John the Baptist in the Fourth Gospel is a reference of depreciation (or devaluation). Most noticeable perhaps is the absence of many aspects of John the Baptist’s ministry that are present in the synoptic Gospels. For example, he eliminates all references to his preaching of repentance and all mention of him as the herald of the Kingdom of God. And he does not engage in water baptism.

Even more significant than these changes and omissions is the fact that in this Gospel the baptism of Jesus himself is not reported, even though Jesus was present in the area of the Jordan during John’s ministry and even though the baptism is the crowning point of John’s ministry in the synoptic Gospels. Apparently this Gospel shows no interest in the baptism. Instead, everything is focused on Jesus Christ. In place of baptism there is Jesus. In place of an act there is the verbal proclamation.

Thus, it is not surprising that those themes peculiar to John’s Gospel are lacking in the account of the Baptist’s ministry. So, although the Baptist was sent to bear witness to the Light, nowhere does the forerunner actually identify Jesus as the Light. He does not term Jesus as the vine, the bread from heaven, the shepherd, the door, the way, the truth, the life, or any of the other themes that occur in this Gospel. That is, just as the words of the Baptist do not develop the themes of the Fourth Gospel, neither does the Gospel develop the themes that are present in the Baptist’s witness.

The final proof of this unique interest on the part of John is that the words for “witness” replace those for “preaching” (Mt 3:1; MK 1:4; LK 3:3) and “exhortation” (Lk 3:18), which synoptic Gospels use of the Baptist’s ministry. Thus, in John’s evaluation the Baptist emerges as the first and the greatest witness to the person and ministry of the Lord. John indicates his interest in John the Baptist precisely as a witness to the Lord.

A Faithful Witness

Later on we will be studying the actual testimony of John the Baptist. But even at this point we should notice that we have an outline of what made the witness of the Baptist so effective. This is important because we also want to be effective in our witness to our Lord.

The outline is quite clear in verses 7 and 8. It has three parts; John the Baptist, who was sent from God (1) was not the Light but (2) was sent to bear witness to the Light, so that (3) men might believe through him.

What does this mean personally? In the first place, the Baptist was aware that he was not the Light. This is important simply because all successful witnessing to our Lord must start with self-realization. Whenever a Christian layman, minister, writer, or whoever it might be, gets to thinking that there is something important about him, he or she will always cease to be effective as Christ’s witness. The testimony will stop. Unfortunately, this has been true of many Christians and of many important Christian movements.

Second, the Baptist bore witness to the Light. This is also important, because there are always many shy or uncertain Christians who feel that they are bearing witness simply because are “living” the Christian faith or refusing to do certain things and doing others. They “live” it at work, at school, in their homes. But important it may be, this is not in itself witnessing. This is so-called “pre-evangelism.” Well, living the faith is a crucial basis for any effective witness. If we don’t live what we profess, the profession will be discredited. But living the faith is not itself witnessing!

Witnessing is speaking to others about Jesus Christ. This is implied in the very word itself, for witnessing is a legal term pointing to verbal testimony rendered in a court of law. If we are to do this effectively, we must be able to tell who Jesus is, what he has said about human nature, what he has done, what he will be doing, and how to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Finally, the witness must be given with the belief of other persons in Jesus as its object. We are told that the Baptist bore witness to the Light so that through him all men might believe. Well, it is too obvious to mention this. Yet this is necessary simply because it is possible for a person to become so mechanical in his witnessing without actually looking and praying for the response to Christ in faith by other persons. If we could remember this, we would find witnessing exciting, and we would learn that winning the argument often becomes far less important than winning the person the Lord.

The Results

We may draw two conclusions. First, when a witness is so given-that is with the awareness on the part of the one witnessing that he or she is not the Light but only pointing to the Light, then people will believe. This is God’s way of doing things, and this means that he has chosen to save men by the foolishness of preaching, and this means by the foolishness of verbal proclamation. It is foolish, as man think of it. But it is the power of God unto salvation for those who will believe.

The second conclusion is related t this. It is simply that if I will witness in this way, man and women will believe as the result of my testimony.

There are seven different kinds of witness mentioned in this Gospel; the witness of Jesus; the witness of God the Father; that of God the Spirit; that of the Bible; that of Christ’s work; and the witness of John the Baptist. That makes six witnesses, but there is one more. It is the witness if ordinary men and women. The first of these human testimonies is given by the Samaritan woman, and her witness is followed by the testimony of the multitude that had seen the raising of Lazarus; the special witness of the 11 disciples; and the testimony of the beloved disciple who was an eyewitness of the crucifixion. Therefore, you and I are included in this last category of witnesses.

What does this mean? It means that God regards my testimony as crucial enough. My testimony may not have a very wide scope. It may not be spectacular, as was John the Baptist. But still it is most important. Rather God heavily relies on my witness today.

Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, thank you again for your gathering us this time to worship you, glorify your name, and listen to your word. We also thank you that just as you have sent John the Baptist as a witness to our Lord, you also have chosen us to be even greater than the Baptist, for you have said, “he who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Yet, O, Lord, make us humble to acknowledge that we are not the Light but rather a witness to that Light. We pray also that, whenever we bear witness to you, make us bold enough to speak to others about you so that men and women might believe in you. In Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Questions to Consider

What is the key theme of the present text (Jn 1:6-9)?

Would you think of any purpose implied in the statement, “He is not the Light”?

Is there any difference between “living the Christian faith” and “bearing witness”?

Has anyone come to believe in Jesus Christ because of your witness?