Christmas with John, 6

SCRIPTURE:  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. John 1:6-7 KJV

THOUGHT: John the Apostle now turns to the historical record of a different John as he threads together the story of God – from the beginning, to the present, to the future. That John, of course, is John the Baptizer, who is sent from God with a message for God’s people: “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2).” It is the first message since the prophet Malachi 400-plus years before spoke of the coming of this messenger and his message (Mal. 3:1).  

It always strikes me as ironic that the chief priests and scribes quiz John the Baptizer about whether he is the Christ or Elijah come back – both of which he denies, stating flatly that he is the one sent to prepare the way for the Christ (vv. 19-25). The irony is that these religious leaders never question Jesus about who he is until the mockery of a trial where Jesus is asked that loaded question (see Mark 14:61-63). Obviously, at that trial, they don’t ask because they want to know, they ask because they seek a reason to stamp him out – and blaspheme will do as well as anything else, perhaps even better since they can’t get all their witnesses to agree on their testimonies.

But John faithfully bears witness to the Light. It is his sacred mission since before birth.

Matthew Henry in his commentary on these verses illuminates a difference between light and darkness in a fascinating way: “Light is a thing which witnesses for itself, and carries its own evidence along with it; but to those who shut their eyes against the light it is necessary there should be those that bear witness to it. Christ’s light needs not man’s testimony, but the world’s darkness does.”

And isn’t that true? John comes into the night of mankind, shining with a borrowed light, careful to point to God and not himself at every turn. He bears witness that there is a light if people open their eyes to see it. That little phrase spoken of Saul occurs to me: “And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. (Acts 9:18 ESV).”

So, as Christmas approaches, let’s remember our own borrowed light and how we can only reflect the one through whom the light comes. May any remaining scales fall off our eyes so they are fully open to the Light of the world who stepped down into darkness.

SONG: Here I am to Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXg2ztge8f0  

PRAYER: Oh God, thank you for the story of John the Baptist, faithfully pointing to Jesus as Light in a dark world rather than himself.