"This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe" (John 1:7).
Some people in the early church believed that the baptism of John was superior to Jesus’ baptism. The apostle corrects this error by stressing that John the Baptist was a man who testified to the coming of the Messiah. John was not the the true light; Jesus was. When you compare the terms the apostle uses to describe John the Baptist with those he uses to describe Christ, the emphasis becomes clear.
First, Christ existed from all eternity (in the beginning …); the Baptist “came,” implying a starting point. Christ was the Word; John was a man. Next, Jesus is the true light, but John came to testify concerning the true light. Christ is the object of faith; John is the agent whose testimony leads men to trust in Christ.
John the Baptist’s purpose in redemptive history was to testify concerning Christ. Like the apostles who came after him, he gave credible testimony to that which he had seen, heard, and experienced. God had revealed to him that the Messiah was coming, and John proclaimed that fact. When the apostle writes in verse 7 “that all through him might believe,” he is not talking about Christ but about John the Baptist. It is on account of John’s testimony that men might believe in Christ. Never does the Bible say we believe through Jesus, but we believe in Him. However, we are brought to faith through means, through agents such as John the Baptist who testify concerning salvation in Christ.
The light we receive from Christ is spiritual illumination through the Gospel. But John is not simply referring to the illumination we receive when our hearts are regenerated. He is talking about the illumination of the Gospel, the message of salvation in Christ—a message that men accept or reject.
Some people hear the Gospel and are in a sense enlightened concerning the truth, but they reject it. We find this to be true from the parable of the seed and from Heb. 6:4–8, where some are said to be illumined but nonetheless reject the truth. John himself says that the light came into the world, but the world opposed it. Hearing testimony concerning the truth does not guarantee embracing it. Knowing the Gospel does not guarantee believing its message.
It is easy to become frustrated when we tell others the Gospel because so often we do not see fruit. But our duty depends not upon results but upon God’s command. If you have the opportunity this week, tell someone the Gospel. Do not become discouraged if you receive no response, but pray faithfully for that person.
