“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)
We usually think of John the Baptist from our Sunday School lessons as that rugged guy who lived in the wilderness dressed in itchy clothes eating locusts and honey. And he was that guy, the one who baptized Jesus. But what an amazing place he is given in John’s epic telling of Jesus, the Word. He is The Witness.
John is the first human mentioned by name in Jesus’ story. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, he was given a specific mission to tell God’s people God’s message for a specific place and time. The people, hungry to hear God’s voice after 400 years of silence (i.e., no true prophets), flocked to hear this radical man’s teaching.
The message: “You people live in darkness, and you’ve been waiting for the light. Change your ways now, because the light is here. Repent, be baptized, and get ready to really see for the first time in your lives.”
Think: What would it be like to live your whole life in total darkness (underground or something) and then one day suddenly see light for the first time? How would that change your life?
Pray: Thank God for sending John the Baptist to prepare the way for the light.
Do: Find a dark room in your house and sit in the darkness for five minutes. Think about the difference between living in darkness and living in light on a spiritual level.