Advent Day 10: Witness

Advent Words Day 10: Witness

"He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."  John 1:7-8

In today's verses we continue to look at John the Baptist. Yesterday we saw that John was sent by God. Today we will see his purpose. The Apostle John tells us that John the Baptist's role was that of a witness. A witness is one who provides evidence and gives first hand eye-witness knowledge. As the verse says John came to "testify concerning the light". Light in Jewish tradition was one of the names of the Messiah. So John the Baptist's role as a witness was to prove Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. The goal of John's testimony concerning the light was that "through him all might believe". We come to faith through belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; we believe in Him through the witness of others.

John the Apostle makes it clear that John the Baptist was a witness to the light and not the light itself. It would appear that this was a common misconception in John's day. John the Baptist was a great man, but he continually made sure people knew about the One who is greater.

"John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” John 1:15

"He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:27

"This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " John 1:30

"He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30

"Believing in the Light happens through a witness to the Light...Without a witness no one believes." ~John Piper

You can read full accounts of John's witness in John 1:19-34 and John 3:22-36.

Join me in responding creatively to the Advent Words in John's prologue. You can share your creative response on Instagram using #adventwords2019 or join the Words Challenge Facebook Group and share your creative response there.