THE KING’S BUSINESS
54
character Could be summed up in one word, “darkness,” did not, indeed would not lay hold of the light (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14; John 3:19, 20). That is why the world con tinues in darkness still. Since_ the world would not lay hold of light in His unin carnate form, God gives the Word in a form more t easily apprehensible, an incar nate form. v. 6. “There was (came) a man (add ,) sent from God, whose name was John.’ God’s condescension to man’s infirmity does not stop even at giving the light in an incarnate form, He goes further, He sends a witness to this incarnate light. To men who can see, light needs, no witness, but men are blind and so need one who can see to bear witness to the light. God sent such a witness in John the Baptist. The title here given him is “a man sent from God.” That is a glorious title. No earthly patent to nobility so glorious as that. But great as John was note the clear line of demarcation between John and Jesus. John is “a man,” sent from God,” it is true, but nevertheless a man. He was a wonderful man, a man whom God delighted to honor, but he was “a man.” On the other hand, Jesus “was God” become flesh. v. 7. “The same came for a (omit, a) witness, to (that he might) bear witness of the Light (light), that all men through him might believe (that all might believe through him)." In verse 6 we have a description of John as a person; here we have a statement of his mission. The pur pose of his coming was not to make himself known, but to make another known. Testi mony to another was not only the purpose of God in sending him, but also the entire absorbing thought and passion of John’s own life (ch. 3:30-32). That to which he bore testimony was “the light,” not merely a light, but “the light.” That is to say, John bore witness, not merely to truth in general, but to the Person who was the incarnation of truth and light (cf. ch. 8:12). The final purpose of John’s testimony was that “all might believe through him.” By the
the strongest encouragement. As another puts it: “His every word of grace is strong As that which built the skies; The voice that rolls the stars along Speaks all the prophecies.” v. 4. "In Him, was life and the life was the:light of men.” Not only were all things- made through the Word, but the life of all was “in Him,” even after He made them. He not only created all things, but sustains all things (Heb. 1:3). There was life in Him before His incarnation. He is the eternal source of life. All life has come forth from Him. This is true of life in every sense, that it is in Him; physical life is in Him; spiritual life is in Him; eternal life is in Him- (1 John 5:11). The only way to get eternal life is by taking Him in Whom it is (1 John 5:12). Not only was life in Him, but He was Himself the life (1 John 1:2), and He who was “the life” was also “the light of men” (John 8:2; 9:5; 12:35, 36). “The Word” did not become “the light of men” by His incarna tion in Jesus of Nazareth: He ever was ’“the light of men.” No ray of light has ever shone upon men except from Him. The light that shone in Old Testament times shone from Him. Yes, even the glimpses of light the heathen had were from Him. v. 5. "And the light shineth in (add, the) darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended) it not.” Up to this point only God has been in view, and “God is light,” but now the human is introduced and on man’s side- (outside of Christ) ^11 is “darkness.” When sin came night came. The condition of the whole world since the fall has been one of moral, spiritual, intel lectual “darkness,” but in the midst of this universal darkness there has ever been a light shining. No matter how deep the darkness, He has shone. The eternal Word who became incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth was in the world giving light before His incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth, but it shone in a dark world and that world whose
Made with FlippingBook Online document