June 2, 2020 -- John 1:6-7 -- Bearing Witness to Jesus the Light of Life

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

He came as a witness to bear witness about the Light,

that all might believe through him.

John 1:6-7 English Standard Version

The arrangement of the words in our reading today is a bit odd for us. Is the thought that John, sent by God the Father, is bearing witness to the Light so that all might believe in John? No. Through John’s witness all might believe in Jesus Christ, Who is the Light of the World and in Whom is the Light of Life.

Bearing witness to Jesus Christ comes at a cost. John is hounded by the religious leaders of his day for speaking of Jesus. The Jewish leaders, called the Pharisees and Sadducees, refused to believe in Jesus. They stirred up the people against Jesus. Their eyes were shut tight against the glorious testimony. In fact, the Greek word for testimony is the root for our word martyr. When one bears testimony, one must be prepared to suffer, perhaps even to go to death for this belief in Jesus.

These two short verses make huge claims. God is in charge. He directs men’s lives. He, the Father, sends the Light, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus we are lost in darkness. All people must answer four basic questions: How is everything made? Is there a universal moral law? Why is there evil? What is the purpose of my life? Our life’s philosophy, whatever it is, must support the answer to these questions. Without a cohesive answer to these questions lives are thrown into confusion and such lives express the disorder of the darkness which dominate them.

As the Gospel of John unfolds we shall see the Light and realize, by the Spirit’s instruction, how Jesus is the Light of Life. At the start of the Gospel the basic questions are answered this way:

God made all things through Jesus Christ.

He, Who made all things, has the right to direct all things and people by His laws.

There is evil because people have shut their eyes against the perfect law of God.

The purpose of our lives is to open our eyes and seeing Jesus, the Light of Life, to follow Him.

As we explore the Gospel of John these answers will become more nuanced and the Truth of Jesus as the Light of Life will be revealed and the witness will be taken up by many more people. It is the torch of witness which is to be taken up now by all who have seen Jesus by faith and believe in His Name. And the Gospel will show us believing in Jesus, no matter what the consequences which are hurled against by the people of this world (including sometimes our own family!) or the rulers of this world, or the powers of darkness, nothing can snatch us out of our Father’s Hand (John 10). There is no greater adventure and blessing than knowing our life’s purpose in serving God.

Who is a God like You? You are patient and faithful with Your wayward people. Who is a Great King like You, Jesus the Blessed?! Sacrificing Himself so that He would redeem a people for His Own. Who is like You, Spirit of Truth? You are ever directing us into the deep, deep, love of Jesus. Help us, Spirit of Comfort, those who have wandered far, to find our way back to Jesus the True Shepherd of our souls. Triune God of Glory, assist us to proclaim Your renown. Amen.