Witness of The Light - John 1:6-11

Nathan Bloechl

John • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

John 1:6–9

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Read Text: John 1:1-13

Pray

Intro:

In the last sermon we looked at the light that was coming into the world,

This light is none other then Jesus Christ, the light that shines into the darkness,

who was not over come by the spiritual darkness of this world.

In fact, He has over come the darkness of sin in this world and has began to recreate the world by his marvelous light.

However, as the apostle John continues to tell us about the light of our Lord Jesus,

throughout the rest of his gospel account, he also lists many witnesses to Jesus Christ.

So, when the apostle John brings up the topic of witnesses in our text this morning,

we have to slow down and understand what he means because it is such an important topic in John’s gospel.

Hook: What is a witness?

So, my question of focus this morning is: what is a witness? x2

We have some ideas about what a witness is in our day history that we think of.

But, in order to appreciate what John is talking about in using the word witness,

we have to understand how the word is used in the bible.

So to start, it would be a good reaction to say that witness is a legal term.

In fact, legal terms like witness are used throughout the bible.

We are even able to speak of the bible as heavenly court case extending over thousands of years.

Even in the beginning, God makes a legal contract with Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And when Adam breaks this contract God comes to him in judgment, another legal term.

In further demonstration of this cosmic court case,

we see the prophets coming as heavenly prosecutors against God’s covenant breaking people.

Even, the end of scripture ends with the great white throne judgement where God will be the final judge of the wicked and the just.

But, in returning to the legal term of witness from our text.

We can better understand, John’s use of the word witness, from its old testament use.

1. An Old Testament Witness

Certainly, one of the earliest uses of the word witness is the bible is in the ninth commandment:

Exodus 20:16 ““You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

However, it becomes more clear when we see how it is used in case law of the bible.

Consider Numbers 35:30 ““If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.”

We see this principle of a witness used later in John’s gospel in chapter 8 when Jesus calls himself the light of the world.

In response to Jesus, the Pharisees quote from the law, saying,

You are bearing witness about yourself; so your testimony is not true.

Those who studied the law of God in Jesus time understood in order to establish a claim, you need two or three witness.

As an example, at last week’s Sunday worship service. I saw a bible with the exact same cover as mine sitting in a chair.

I mistook it for mine, so I picked it up and put it in my box.

I came to find out later it was actually Martin’s bible.

However, Martin wanted to accuse me of stealing according to the Old testament case law. He wouldn’t be able to accuse me.

Martin's accusation against me would not be sustained because I was the only witness of my taking his bible.

This is the same idea that John is using throughout his gospel about Jesus Christ.

However, John does not merely use two or three witnesses, but a great number of them.

He presents his own witness, the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus’ own works in chapters 5 and 10, the Old testament, the crowds that believed after Lazarus’ resurrection, the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the apostles.

2. John as a Witness

But this morning we will focus on the first witness that John presents in his long list.

Look with me again at verse 6 where it says: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

This can be no other than John the Baptist,

since the only other John would be John the apostle who never mentions his own name in his gospel.

But look at this phrase in verse six

“there was a man sent from God”

This also help us understand what the apostle means by witness.

This phrase “ a man sent from God has a lot of background in the Old testament.

John the Baptist was not the first man who was sent from God.

This phrase was used often used in the Old testament to describe a prophet.

Consider a handful of Old testment uses of this phrase:

In Exodus 3:10 it says, “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.””

In the famous dialog between God and Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8 it says “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

It becomes even more clear in Jeremiah 1:4–7 “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.”

When we see what God says in these verses, then we understand that the apostle categorizing John the Baptist with the old testament prophets!

The Lord Jesus goes even further than this in describing John in our 1st scripture reading this morning:

look again at Matthew 11:7–11 “As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

The Lord Jesus is saying, that John the baptist is the last prophet and greatest prophet to Jesus himself.

And yet, being the greatest prophet and witness to Jesus. He is least in the kingdom of heaven.

Surely, John was the greatest prophet and witness, but his witness was for the purpose of preparing the way for the Savior.

In the OT office of the prophet, John the baptist had the unique function of transferring the people of God to a new era.

Up until John, the people of God were looking ahead to the coming of the messiah.

but now, John came to prepare announce the savior’s presence.

And to prepare the way, John, like the Old testament prophets came in judgement against God’s people.

consider John’s words of judgement: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

John came as a witness against them, and the apostle John repeats his witness to the church.

And John’s witness to the light bears the weight of meaning that witness has for us from the bible today.

The original greek word that we see read for witness in english for our text is: μαρτυρία. x2

does that sound familiar? It is the same word we use for martyr today.

kids, a martyr is someone willing to lay their life down because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

an example of this would be if someone said to you, “give up your faith in Jesus or I will kill you”

and you said in response, “i will never give up faith in my Lord”

And following this you were killed, you would be known as a martyr.

To be clear, not every use of the word witness means martyr, but many witnesses have died for the name of Jesus.

Most of the OT prophets were killed, all but one of the apostles we know of were martyred.

And John himself was persecuted unto death in witnessing and living onto Christ.

And his blood continues to bear witness to Christ just like the blood of Abel :

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

3. Christ as a Witness

So, my next question this morning is, have you received this testimony of John Baptist?

John was not sent from God to testify to himself, but about the Light who was coming into the world.

Have you responded to the testimony in verse 29 that he held until his being beheaded?

John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Surely, John’s focus was, never on himself,

When his disciples responded disgruntled with the advancement of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

John responded back, “he must increase and I must decrease”

John truly was willing to decrease to the point of death.

His witness or martyr always points us to the greater martyr, the Lord Jesus himself.

The Lord Jesus witnessed to himself, and his testimony was the was what John was pointing to.

Truly, we have no greater witness to the love of God than the our high priest offering up himself on the cross for sinners.

Dear believer in Christ,

Does your life witness about the martyrdom of our Lord?

Scripture calls each one of us to live or lives like John the Baptist.

It says in 2 Corinthians 4:7–11 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

As pastor Jackson said a couple of weeks ago, each of us will experience persecution in this life because of the work God is doing in us by Christ.

However, our tears will be turned to gladness when we enter the courtroom of God at the last judgement.

because we know in the final judgement, having held fast to the testimony of the faithful witness of Christ,

we will not be ashamed.

Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:5-6)

Let’s pray

The NT is more reticent than the later church to dwell on martyrdom, perhaps for fear of detracting from the martyr par excellence: “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness [martyr]” (Rev 1:5; 3:15 NIV). In the crucified Messiah we see martyrdom in its purest form-the innocent slain for the guilty, and the hero for those who reject him. Isaiah’s description of the suffering servant employs language rich with the imagery of the innocent martyr: “he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (Is 53:5–6 NIV). Leland Ryken 540.

4. The Church as a Witness

Let us pray

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Intro - Witness in legal matters

Covenant- (b. The elements of the covenant of works. (1) The parties. A covenant is always a compact between two parties. In this case they are the triune God, the sovereign Lord of the universe, and Adam as the representative of the human race. Since these parties are very unequal, the covenant naturally partakes of the nature of an arrangement imposed on man. (2) The promise. The promise of the covenant was the promise of life in the highest sense, life raised above the possibility of death. This is what believers now receive through Christ, the last Adam. (3) The condition. The condition was that of absolute obedience. The positive command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was clearly a test of pure obedience. (4) The penalty. The penalty was death in the most inclusive sense of the word, physical, spiritual, and eternal. This consists not only in the separation of body and soul, but more fundamentally in the separation of the soul from God. (5) The sacrament(s). In all probability the tree of life was the only sacrament of this covenant,—if it was indeed a sacrament. It seems to have been appointed as a symbol and seal of life.) Louis Berkhof, Summary of Christian Doctrine 70.

The image of covenant or agreement is the primary way in which the Bible portrays the relationship between God and his people and (to a lesser extent) to the human race in general. While many horizontal relationships are described as covenantal (including marriage and various pacts between friends or among enemies), the Bible’s imagery of covenant p 177 focuses primarily on the covenant between God and humankind. Leland Ryken 176–177.

The Prophets. The state of the covenant is a dominant theme in OT prophecy, where a major image pattern revolves around the faithlessness of the chosen nation and its failure to live up to its covenant obligations. Isaiah 24:5 contains this list of parallel actions: “they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.” The covenant is variously portrayed as having been “broken” (Jer 11:10; cf. Ezek 17:15–19), “abandoned” (Jer 22:9 NRSV), “transgressed” (Jer 34:18), not remembered (Amos 1:9), “corrupted” (Mal 2:8) and profaned (Mal 2:10). Leland Ryken 178.

Court Room

the great white throne judgement

WITNESS

In modern Western societies there are three types of “witness”: (1) a witness to a signature on a will or other document, (2) a witness to a crime or a major event and (3) a religious witness, someone who “testifies” to the truth he or she holds. All three senses are present in the biblical understanding of “witness,” but they converge much more closely with each other. Leland Ryken 958.

Witness of Abel’s blood - and the prophets (μαρτυρία)

Like other martyrs, Abel’s influence lives on: as a model of faith, “he being dead yet speaketh” (Heb 11:4 KJV). Leland Ryken 540.

12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.- 1 Jn 3:11–12.

But Jesus, proclaiming the coming judgment upon unbelieving Israel, invokes the memory of a whole line of martyrs: “Upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah” (Mt 23:35 RSV). Leland Ryken 540.

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

In the NT, Stephen stands out as the first Christian martyr, one who exemplifies the meaning of Jesus’ instruction of taking up the cross in following him (Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23). Martyrs are also highlighted in the book of Revelation, where their sacrificial witness receives special honor. When the dragon is defeated, we are told that his downfall is brought about by the saints: “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Rev 12:11 NIV). Here the description of the “blood of the martyrs as the seed of the church” was born. Leland Ryken , 540.

Witness of John the Baptist

Also active, in judgement, also onto martyrdom, but unique.

John is foreunner

prophet of the most high luke?

unique unrepeatable role- ministry stands closest to Jesus being incarnate

English Standard Version Chapter 11

A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

more than Moses and Elijah

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. -The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 11:11.

half to old era- (old) but transitional figure that belongs to the new. old promises messiah to new which reveals the messiah.

Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Mal 4:5- Elijah to come

the kingdom passes from future to present “behold the lamb of God”

John has the unique transitional function. Cousin of Christ, but sensitive to Christ, leaping in the womb.

He comes saying repent, looking to the day of fire.

Prophet of judgement 11:11- not ordo salutis, but John has an OT life. 1 peter 1:10-11

Are you the one or should we look for another

John was looking forward to judge now.

John was living under a OT theocratic order. John did not have redemptive authority

John faultered, he was living OT, but was not understanding the new developed cruciform vailed life, that will end later in judgement. Matt 11

English Standard Version Chapter 5

40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

-rejoice that you suffer, for the Spirit of Glory rests on you

Witness of Christ

Baptism

-repentance for the glory coming of the Kingdom

-Judgement- covenant lawsuit against Israel- in preparation for the glory of the Messiah

Vos- Matt 3:13-15

no need for Jesus to be Baptized by John (0r receive anything from John)

Though it is for the purpose of those whom he would redeem

Jesus ordination service (official receiving the Holy Spirit for his special office of Messiah/objective office as mediator)

Jesus has come to fulfill all righteousness, not for Himself, but as the vocal point of judgement and salvation for His people

Sign of judgement and righteousness

Passing through the judgement waters for us

He repents vicariously for his people in baptism though he knew no sin. Like he died vicariously for His people though he did not deserve it. (solidarity with His people)(He remains holy, harmless, and undefiled)

He goes through all the necessary steps to save His people (like his own circumcision)

This is for his identification with Israel

God requires perfect righteousness for all his people (apart of historia salutis)

This episode is all parallel

objective - (d) this objective necessity is something that operates, not for ever and under all circumstances, but just for the present situation, with a prospect half-opened, of future removal of the necessity; Geerhardus Vos, 319.

Holy Spirt- 3 ministries in conjuntion with

Conceived, public ministry on earth, His resurrection (heavenly person 1 cor 15:45)

Makes allusion to Genesis 1:2 “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

Deut 32:10-11 ““He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions,”

Decent Holy Spirit is now on Jesus, to prepare him for heaven for the pouring out of that Spirit on Pentacost.