15th December 2023
John the witness
There was a man sent from God whose 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.
John 1:6-8 (NIVUK)
In the prologue of the fourth gospel, John the gospel writer inserts a couple of verses into his description of the Word to introduce us to another John: John the Baptist, who witnessed about Jesus. Interestingly, John’s gospel does not describe this John as ‘the Baptist’, and perhaps a more fitting description of him is ‘John the witness’.
His example of being a witness has at least four implications for us today:
First, John was ‘a man sent from God’ (John 1:6). At the right time God sent a human being to give testimony to the coming of his Son. God works with us human beings throughout all generations to make Jesus known. So, be sensitive to God’s call on your life, and be ready for him to send you to share Jesus with family, friends, and those in your neighbourhood.
Secondly, John came ‘to testify concerning [the] light’ (v.7). Christian witness is about Jesus and not us. We are to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16) only in so far as we reflect the light of the light of the world and illuminate him.
Thirdly, John witnessed ‘so that through him all might believe’ (John 1:7). John’s gospel was written so that people ‘may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing [they] may have life in his name.’ (John 20:31). God wants all people to come to trust in his Son for salvation and our message is good news because in his death Jesus will draw all people to himself (John 12:32). Our witness is that all people have been included in the sacrifice of Jesus. No matter what we have done in the past we have been reconciled to God through Jesus, and that’s a message worth sharing.
Finally, John ‘was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.’ (John 1:8). This might seem like repetition from the gospel writer but it’s making the point brought out in John 3:30, ‘He [Jesus] must become greater; I [John the witness] must become less.’ Our witness of Jesus is not to show what a great orator, singer, musician, prayer warrior, or helper of the poor we are. It is to show how great Jesus is, and as we do that we fade into the background as he takes centre stage.
John the witness’s whole life pointed to the truth and worth of the one who was to come after him: Jesus. May our witness do likewise.
Prayer
Loving Father, may we decrease and Jesus increase as we witness him to others. And in sharing the good news of Jesus may we see people come to believe in him, as he draws all people to himself. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
About the writer:
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Southern England, the Midlands, and Wales
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church