John 1 6-8 19-28

Advent 3

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Children’s Advent Service

December 15, 2002

“The Traditions of Christmas”

(Bearing Witness to the Light)

Introduction:  Lighted church

It must have come as great surprise when Elizabeth and Zechariah heard that their only son, John, now called the Baptist, was hanging out in the desert, wearing camel skins, eating locusts and honey, and yelling for the world to repent.  You have to wonder what they must have thought of their son, especially since Elizabeth was a relative to our Lord’s mother and Zechariah had a prestigious position as a priest in the temple of God.  What would you think if your children started acting that way?   More likely than not, I imagine that you would start wishing your child had stayed on the farm, gotten a job at a local factory or gone of to college.  Anything would be better than hanging out in the desert sun.  But in the end Elizabeth and Zechariah had to admit that John was only following tradition.  John was following the traditions of the prophets that had gone before him and especially the prophet Elijah. 

            As we celebrate the traditions of Christmas today 

Conclusion:  You and I are not the Light.  We only bear witness to His light.  Our traditions in which we celebrate Christmas are not the light but they too point to the one who is.  Jesus is the light, the world’s light, which shines in this present darkness with a light no darkness can overcome.  Not even the darkness of sin or the terrors of death can overcome this glorious light that is Jesus.  He has been shinning on creation from the beginning.  Since the first day when darkness entered into our world He has stood as the light that would redeem the world from sin and death.  His light over came the dark on the night of His glorious incarnation and birth in a Bethlehem manger.  His light broke through the shadows on a dark Friday afternoon when He was crucified.  His glorious light burst forth from the darkness of His grave.  That is what our Christmas traditions are all about as they point to Jesus, our Savior, the light of the world.

3. We are here cautioned not to mistake him for the light who only came to bear witness to it (v. 8): He was not that light that was expected and promised, but only was sent to bear witness of that great and ruling light. He was a star, like that which guided the wise men to Christ, a morning star; but he was not the Sun; not the Bridegroom, but a friend of the Bridegroom; not the Prince, but his harbinger. There were those who rested in John’s baptism, and looked no further, as those Ephesians, Acts 19:3. To rectify this mistake, the evangelist here, when he speaks very honourably of him, yet shows that he must give place to Christ. He was great as the prophet of the Highest, but not the Highest himself. Note, We must take heed of over-valuing ministers, as well as of under-valuing them; they are not our lords, nor have they dominion over our faith, but ministers by whom we believe, stewards of our Lord’s house. We must not give up ourselves by an implicit faith to their conduct, for they are not that light; but we must attend to, and receive, their testimony; for they are sent to bear witness of that light; so then let us esteem them, and not otherwise. Had John pretended to be that light he had not been so much as a faithful witness of that light. Those who usurp the honour of Christ forfeit the honour of being the servants of Christ; yet John was very serviceable as a witness to the light, though he was not that light. Those may be of great use to us who yet shine with a borrowed light.

II. Before he goes on with John’s testimony, he returns to give us a further account of this Jesus to whom John bore record. Having shown in the beginning of the chapter the glories of his Godhead, he here comes to show the graces of his incarnation, and his favours to man as Mediator.

1. Christ was the true Light (v. 9); not as if John Baptist were a false light, but, in comparison with Christ, he was a very small light. Christ is the great light that deserves to be called so. Other lights are but figuratively and equivocally called so: Christ is the true light. The fountain of all knowledge and of all comfort must needs be the true light. He is the true light, for proof of which we are not referred to the emanations of his glory in the invisible world (the beams with which he enlightens that), but to those rays of his light which are darted downwards, and with which this dark world of ours is enlightened. But how does Christ enlighten every man that comes into the world? (1.) By his creating power he enlightens every man with the light of reason; that life which is the light of men is from him; all the discoveries and directions of reason, all the comfort it gives us, and all the beauty it puts upon us, are from Christ. (2.) By the publication of his gospel to all nations he does in effect enlighten every man. John Baptist was a light, but he enlightened only Jerusalem and Judea, and the region round about Jordan, like a candle that enlightens one room; but Christ is the true light, for he is a light to enlighten the Gentiles. His everlasting gospel is to be preached to every nation and language, Rev. 14:6. Like the sun which enlightens every man that will open his eyes, and receive its light (Ps. 19:6), to which the preaching of the gospel is compared. See Rom. 10:18. Divine revelation is not now to be confined, as it had been, to one people, but to be diffused to all people, Mt. 5:15. (3.) By the operation of his Spirit and grace he enlightens all those that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him perish in darkness. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is said to be in the face of Jesus Christ, and is compared with that light which was at the beginning commanded to shine out of darkness, and which enlightens every man that comes into the world. Whatever light any man has, he is indebted to Christ for it, whether it be natural or supernatural.

This text is clear that the roles of the Logos and the witness are not to be confused. The apostle John reminds us, “He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness to the light.” Negatively, John was NOT the Light. Positively, he was a witness of the light. John was merely a witness, the voice of one crying in the desert. He was the preparer, the forerunner, the one who paved the way. John’s Gospel makes it clear that John the Baptist saw his role as subservient. He just wanted to point others to Jesus.

According to Acts 18.25 and 19.1-3, the disciples of John the Baptist continued to exist alongside the Early Church. Yet, John’s purpose was not to attract and maintain followers. Instead, he wanted to direct people to Jesus (as we see later in the chapter). He was not the light. He was merely a witness to the light.

* There is a temptation for us to view ourselves as more than just witnesses. Sometimes we want to believe that we have the authority of the light Himself, but we must be reminded that we are nothing more than witnesses, reflections of the light. Our role is to point others to Jesus.

What a privilege—to be a witness of the light. What an honor—to point others to the Light. We cannot bring light to the darkened souls of others, but we can direct them toward the light that can. We can reflect the true light. We can be representatives of the light.