"There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." John 1:6-9
In the previous post, we talked about why Jesus is necessary. The next section of the first chapter of John reveals that Jesus' coming to earth was not only predicted, His puropse was proclaimed.
The Coming of Jesus was Predicted (v.6-7)
Verse six introdcues us to John the Baptist. John could be considered the last Old Testament prophet as he prepared the way for Jesus by proclaiming Jesus' coming. Matthew 3:1-17 gives complete background information about John the Baptist (not to be confused with the Apostle John who wrote the book of John). John the Baptist preached a simple message of "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is near." John's arrival on the scene was foretold by the prophet Isaiah in 40:3 - "A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him." Indeed, John did this as he lived in the desert and ate only locust pods and honey. People repented of their sins, confessed them, and were baptized in the Jordan River. This was an odd thing to do. Why should the Jewish people confess their sins and be immersed in the river? Didn't the sacrificial systetm fulfill the necessary propitiation for the sins? No, it didn't...and this is the reason Jesus came to the earth.
Verse 7 then states that John came as a witness to testify concerning the light, Jesus, so that through Jesus all men might believe. The coming of Jesus was predicted also in many Old Testament prophecies with Isaiah 53 being the most famous and complete passage. Not only was the coming of Jesus predicted, the purpose of Jesus was proclaimed.
The Purpose of Jesus was Proclaimed (v.8-9)
Verse 8 says that John, himself was not the light. Indeed, John had garnered quite a following of disicples of his own. However, John made it clear that 'after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire." (Matt 3:11). John was simply proclaiming the purpose of Jesus. Jesus' purpose was that he would bring light in a dark world. A world that was lost in its sins would soon have the Son of God in it to shed light on its sins and bring to light the fact that we all need forgiveness of our sins or we will never leave the darkness.
The true light is Jesus. There are many false lights, such as other religions which make empty promises and outrageous claims and generally insist on works-based salvation. However, Christ is different. He offers us free grace. Grace is Jesus' love for us. We do nothing to inherit eternal life through forgiveness of sins but by trusting in Jesus. It's not our own works, so that none can boast. Jesus came to us and if it wasn't for Jesus coming, we wouldn't know. We would sitll be stumbling in the dark.
