7th January 2022 – John 1:6-8

6 "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.He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light."

John 1:6-8

The abrupt introduction of John the Baptist at this point seems at first glance strange and inexplicable, and unconnected with anything that has been said thus far. But connection there is, and it is this: John has been speaking of the fact of darkness in the world, and here is God's provision for the dispelling of the darkness. He sends a man into the world to bear witness to the light. And wherever there is darkness in the world, God wants to send a messenger to bear witness to the light. This is a wonderfully fruitful thought. Is there darkness in your office, your place of work, in your home, in your street? That is why God has placed you there. He wants a messenger there, to bear witness to the light, to point to it and speak of it. This is what every true servant of Christ is called to do and be, and this is the divine provision for the prevention and the dispelling of the darkness of unbelief. What encouragement and what challenge are here! Take the case of a believer burdened about the members of his family. He has borne testimony in his home to Christ, and they have repudiated his testimony. The darkness would not appropriate the light. But it cannot put the light out, for God has placed it there; it must persist faithfully and patiently, for it is stronger than the darkness. In the end, it must produce belief (7).