The Revelation of the Incarnate Word. John 1:6-9 God had laid detailed plans for the arrival of Christ into the world. The Old Testament scriptures predicted a forerunner who would prepare the way for the Lord. In God's sovereign purpose, John was born into this world. This man "came from God." The plan to reveal God's self to the world through "The Word" included the miraculous conception of John, born to Zacharias and Elizabeth in their older years. This was no mere accident of nature; it was all part of God's divine plan.
The nature of John's birth, his name being announced, the kind of man he was, and his lifestyle set him apart from others. He was a prophet of the Most High. He was to give God's people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins. He was separated from politics and the nation's religious life by living in the desert until "The Light" was publicly revealed. John came to tell and show that faith in God is a reality. He testified to the fact that Light had come, and He was there for all to see. When one witnesses "The True Light," that witness casts a reflection, which is what people see when they hear the message of salvation.
Not all servants of God understand God's purpose for their lives and service. John didn't live long, but he is well known because of the power and impact of his brief years. His calling from God involved years of childhood and a few years in the desert preparing for his short public ministry. When someone testifies, they openly affirm and provide evidence of what they know. John was such a person. He came to testify openly and to bear witness to "The Light." He knew firsthand that Jesus was "The Light." As a witness, John, who saw and knew Jesus personally or through perception, began to testify that Jesus was here publicly. He clearly stated he was not "The Light" himself, but as a witness, he provided evidence of who the Lord Jesus Christ was.
We also must openly testify and affirm who the Lord Jesus is. Through personal experience, we know Him and have felt His presence and power in our lives as believers. Our witness to what we have seen, heard, and experienced of Him is vital. There is no question or doubt about the limitations of our humanity. Conversely, there is no doubt about the perfection of "The Word's" deity. How can the vast gap between us and God's expectations be bridged?
"The Light" has shone in our darkness, revealing His sinless perfection. When there is a witness to affirm what one sees and knows, there results, from testimony, a reality that shows. Light has come beyond revealing what is wrong and shows those in darkness that a Christian belongs in the light. Not everyone has an inward knowledge of who "The True Light" really is, and not everyone has heard about Jesus and the uniqueness that is His alone. The Light shining in every person’s inner being reveals that person’s character. Then, if they listen when the Gospel message comes to them, they will learn that "by His stripes, we are healed."
Those who know the Lord now and live by faith in Him who "gave Himself for me" are responsible for bearing witness to "The Light" so that hearers will flee from the wrath to come. Our personal testimony adds weight to our words, so those who hear them will believe. The experience of walking in the light with the Lord demonstrates that we have received the Light.
John not only bore witness to the Lord Jesus, but behind that testimony was a very important reason. It was that "all men through Him might believe." Saying something that is true is not enough. The goal of a witness testifying for the Lord is that people will personally accept what we have to say. It is true that we, like John, can reflect the light of our Lord Jesus Christ, but the point of that is for others to come to accept "The Word," who is "the Light of the world." In this Gospel, John emphasizes the noun “witness” fourteen times and the verb “testify” thirty-three times because the fact that Jesus is the Son of God must be believed.
Many people have claimed to be the true light over the years, including some in my lifetime. Their deception was quickly exposed. When the Lord Jesus Christ came, He revealed the flaws and darkness of all others who claim to have the light of truth and understanding apart from the revealed truth of the Word of God. "The True Light" that entered the world shines on everyone, regardless of who they are or where they are.
His character reveals the true nature of every person. His holiness exposes how unholy and ungodly we are. His perfections shine a light on the darkness within our hearts. His coming into the world did not grant everyone knowledge of salvation or Himself. But the Incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, has shown the standard of divine expectation for what God desires from humans.
John came to testify and demonstrate that faith in God is real. He declared that Light had arrived and was visible for all to see. When someone witnesses "The True Light," that witness reflects it. This reflection is what people perceive when they hear the gospel of salvation. Not everyone has an inner knowledge of who "The True Light" truly is, and not everyone has heard about Jesus and what makes Him unique. It is through the shining of the Light in every believer in Jesus that character is revealed. Then, when the Gospel message is shared with them, they will learn that only "by His stripes we are healed."
The philosophers of other cultures who started religions rose only as high as the morals and limited understanding of their teachers. Seventy-eight times in the Gospel of John and twenty-four times in John’s epistles, “world” is mentioned. It is referred to in various ways as the universe, earth, people on earth, most people, people opposed to God, and the human system opposed to God’s purposes. The word “world” is clarified by the context in which it is used.
Everyone falls far short of what God expects of us. False teachers impose on their followers a demand of works to try to attain what, in every human heart, we can’t produce but need - peace, freedom, righteousness, and happiness. The shining of the True Light of the Lord, put into human flesh, reveals the perfect humanity God desires. None of us can achieve this on our own. But in and through Christ, God can accept us — those who believe in Him. By faith, we can personally accept Him as our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord. His righteousness is imputed to us, and God can justly accept us because of Him.
Those who know the Lord and live by faith in Him who "gave Himself for me" are responsible for bearing witness to "The Light" so that hearers will flee from the coming wrath. Our personal testimony enhances our words so that those who listen will believe. The experiences of walking in the light with Him witness to the Light we have received.
Out of Obscurity. Two men, who lived in obscurity during their early years, changed the course of human history. God sent both, and both could trace their human lineage. One was from the tribe of Levi, and the other was from Judah's royal tribe. Both were miraculously born; both faithful and innocent men died at the hands of others. One moved from his home to a desert where he received a prophetic message, while the other stayed in his despised hometown, earning his living as a carpenter. The man from a priest’s household fulfilled a prophetic declaration that he would bring to the nation of Israel. To most people in his hometown, the other one was just a common man, but he was a prophet, a priest, and a king.
One came to warn the nation; the other came to bless it. One's message was a call to repentance; the other's message was that we all need a new birth and God's forgiveness. One was popular with the people he preached to; the other was despised and rejected by men. One was the final prophet for the Jewish nation; the other was the Lord from heaven.
It is difficult to understand why prophet John the Baptist was so widely accepted. People traveled from all over to listen to him, and they believed his message. John's role was to testify to the Light that would come openly. People from all walks of life, from ordinary citizens and soldiers to a king on his throne, paid attention to his words. When John pointed to the True Light, people looked at the other Man with suspicion. When Jesus was identified as the Lamb of God by John, the nation rejected Him and missed their opportunity for national redemption and renewal, and as a result, they continued to suffer. The work of the Lord, who was slain on the cross, is enough to cover the world's sin; it is “unto all” but only “upon all that believe.”
These two men rose from obscurity to reach national prominence. The God-Man brought Light and Life, and the prophet called for genuine repentance. In God's unfolding redemptive plan, both were used to accomplish His will. What was introduced long ago continues to spread worldwide today. John has passed away, awaiting the resurrection, but the eternal Word remains alive and active. Jesus remains the Light, the Lamb of God, and the Master of those who do His will. He is the Christ, The Son of God; He is the King of Israel. The message John proclaimed and the work Jesus performed still bring blessings to those who believe in Him.