THE KING’S BUSINESS
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“all” the world-wide scope of God’s pur pose, the fact that He not only had Israel in view in the coming of John the Baptist and Christ, but all nations, comes but. The Greek noun which is rendered “witness,” and the corresponding Greek verb which is rendered “bear witness” in this verse, are favorite words with John. The noun and verb are used 38 times in the gospel, 17 times in John’s epistles, and 18 times in Revelation. Men are not asked to 'believe blindly (as some would have us think), but upon sufficient and abundant testimony. From the saving power of John the Bap tist’s testimony none were excluded. He did not exclude any (Luke 7:30). The one thing that God demands of men is faith (Heb. 11:6; John 6:29), and the one object of John’s message is touring men to faith (cf. Rom. 10:17). So John came that men "might believe.” John the evangelist wrote his gospel for the same purpose for which John the Baptist came (ch. 20:31). v. 8. “He was not that Light (the light), but was sent to (came that he might) bear witness of that Light (the light).” While John the Baptist only came for testimony concerning the light, many were disposed to accept him as being himself the light. Many of his own disciples were piqued when they saw their fellow-disciples leav ing John the Baptist and going to Jesus (ch. 3:25, 26), so John here emphasizes the fact that while John the Baptist was a messenger sent from God and came for testimony, that all might believe, neverthe less after all he was not himself the light, but simply a witness concerning the light. John was only a lamp (cf. ch. 5:35, R.V.), our Lord Jesus was the light itself. v. 9. “That (There) was the true Light (light), (add, even the light) which light- eth every man that cometh (, coming) into the world.” Not John the Baptist, but the eternal Word was the true light. In His coming into the world, not only His coming in the incarnation in Jesus of Nazareth, but also in His coming in the preliminary manifestations of “the Word,” which pre
ceded the incarnation, He lighteth men. Every ray of light that any man has ever received comes from Him. Men. were never left, altogether alone to grope in the dark ness, the eternal Word was always coming and shining and lighting men. In the incar nation, of which we are to read in the verses that follow, the light received its perfect manifestation. The eternal Word and He alone “was the true Light.” All other lights are only partial. He fully realizes all that is meant by light (cf. 1 John 1:5). He is called the “true Light” not merely in contrast to false lights, but in contrast to all imperfect, incomplete lights. The force of the tense of the verb translated “lighteth” indicates continuous action. The Word continually is lighting men. v. 10. “He was in the world, and the world was made by (rather, through) Him, and the world knew Him not.” This verse refers to the presence of the eternal Word in the world before the incarnation. “The Word” did not first come into the world when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was in the world from the beginning of creation, as He was with the Father before creation. He was in the world, not merely as speak ing through the prophets, He was in the world as a personal presence, but though He was in the' world, the world did not recognize Him, it “knew Him not.” Man ever since the fall has keen blind to the presence
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