The First Witness

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

This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light

that all through him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

John 1:6-9

Each of the Gospel accounts, in their own unique way, connects John the Baptist with the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and with good reason. John the Baptist was the first witness for Jesus Christ. He was a man with a mission, sent to precede the Messiah with an urgent call for people to repent. There were special prophecies spoken over him before he was even conceived, spoken over him at his birth. Prophets of old made statements that were fulfilled in the man, John.

John could rightly be called the first apostle, as that is what is said of him in the original language. He was a man given orders from God, one both sent and driven by God. I believe there is the implication in the Greek that it also means he was ordered by God to go to an appointed place at an appointed time, which is why we know absolutely nothing about John the Baptist from the day of his birth until he appears on a wilderness stage along the Jordan River with his loud cry for repentance and commitment. He had no purpose in life but to bear witness to the Light, and until he had something to talk about, he had no reason to be in the public eye. But when Jesus was ready to enter the ministry, John was ready to witness it.

John was a man sent from God, and he had one purpose in life--he came to bear witness of the Light, that through him all who heard him might believe. He came to bear witness...Do you know what a witness does? The witness of a crime points there finger in a police line-up or in a courtroom and says, "That's the man." The witness of an event gives a detailed and accurate account of what they heard, saw and experienced first hand. The witness of a document signs their name and says, "I affirm that this document is faithful and true." John was sent from God to be a witness, and what an example he gave us!

One of the things I've always found most interesting about the Biblical concept of witness is the Greek word behind it: marturio. Though in the lexicons it is simply one who bears witness or gives testimony, the Greek word lends itself directly to another English word with an even more impacting application--martyr. A martyr is one who lays down their life for their belief or their message. Jesus commissioned His disciples to be witnesses, and said that the Holy Ghost would give them the power to do it. Every one of those men save John the Beloved Apostle, starting with John the Baptist, gave their lives as martyrs for the cause of Jesus Christ. They gave their lives in service to the message of repentance and salvation. They gave their all for Jesus! Perhaps most importantly of all, we need to understand that being a witness for Him is more than telling someone about Him. We must first die for Him, that we might live, and continually die everyday on the cross with Him, that He might live through us.

John came to bear witness of the Light, the true Light that gives Light to every person born on this planet, and John also understood that he himself was not that light. He had that Light shining upon Him, and He stood as a representative of the Light, but his life was limited. There are many things which give limited amounts of light--the flame of a candle or a lamp, the fire on a hearth, a spark from a stone, an electric lightbulb. But these all are limited in their extent and in their endurance. Eventually, a lightbulb burns out and a flame exhausts its fuel supply and goes out. None of these are true light, they only bear a resemblance.

Jesus is the true light, the real nature corresponding to the name of Light. He is the genuine article, the real deal, not a semblance but the reality of Light. He has no limitations, and He has no end. His Light will never be extinguished, and He shines everywhere! He shines His Light into the hearts and upon the lives of every person born, and to those who receive Him as Savior and Lord He gives His Light to guide them forever!