Witness of the Light

Witness of the Light
Light in the Night!
Terry R. Baughman

“Suddenly a man appeared who was sent from God, a messenger named John. For he came as a witness, to point the way to the Light of Life, and to help everyone believe” (John 1:6–7 TPT).

Many self-proclaimed messiahs came before Jesus was born. They all had a military agenda, to overthrow the Roman oppressors. Their view of prophecy was that when Messiah came He would sit upon the throne of David and once again reign as king of Israel. Surely, they would find deliverance from their adversaries, establish an independent rule, and enjoy another era of peace and prosperity that was long in their past. So pervasive was this view of the prophets that even among the disciples there was a question of when the kingdom would be returned to Israel. That was also the last question they asked after His resurrection and before His ascension, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6 NKJ).

God’s plan for peace and prosperity was quite different. Indeed, Jesus came to set captives free and deliver the people from bondage, but it was not in the way they imagined. Jesus came to establish another type of Kingdom, a spiritual Kingdom unlike any other. He explained to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36 NKJ). 

John the Baptist had insight from the Spirit as to the role of Jesus, the Messiah. He proclaimed Him to be, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NKJ). John recognized that Jesus would increase in the course of ministry while John would decrease. John was the forerunner, the one who prepared the way for Messiah. Through John’s preaching of repentance, hearts were convicted of sin and ready to embrace the coming Messiah in faith. Even John’s disciples would be introduced to Jesus and would leave to follow Him. 

The Apostle John wrote that the baptizer was truly sent from God, not to be the Messiah, but to be a witness of the One who was to come. Jesus was the Light of the world. John recognized that truth and became the “witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.” Jesus was, “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:7,9 NKJ). 

The prophet Isaiah predicted the coming of the messenger calling out, “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3 NIV). John the Baptist was that messenger who prepared the way and bore witness of the Light. Isaiah also prophesied, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2 NIV). Matthew recognized that this was fulfilled in Jesus who began His ministry in Galilee of the Gentiles, preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 NKJ).

We, who have received the light of truth in our lives, now have the privilege and responsibility to also be witnesses of the Light. We know that Jesus, “the perfect Light of Truth was coming into the world,” and His purpose is to, “shine upon everyone” (John 1:9 TPT). Let Him shine, and let us be the witnesses of His glory!
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Theme passage:
“A fountain of life was in him, for his life is light for all humanity. And this Light never fails to shine through darkness—Light that darkness could not overcome! (John 1:4-5 TPT).