John 1:6-8, The Messenger

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He 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.

John the baptizer is an interesting character in the gospels. His ministry is the final phase of the Old Covenant God made with Abraham. Luke tells us that he is the son of Jesus’ mother’s cousin, so the two of them are related. Did they grow up together? Did John know Jesus his whole life since they were born within months of each other? The Bible does not tell us, but the Gospel of John tells us that John was sent from God for a purpose: to prepare people to meet Jesus so that they would believe in him. John’s divine job was to point people to Jesus, to bear witness to who he is: the light, or as Jesus later says of himself, “I am the light of the world.”

In the Gospel of John there are seven witness to Jesus: first, the Word reveals himself to the world through conscience and creation (1:1-5); second, John witnesses to him in word and deed (1:7); third, the Father (5:31); fourth, the Son himself (8:14); fifth, the Holy Spirit (15:26); sixth, the works of Jesus (5:36); and seventh, the gospel writer himself (21:24). Truth was critically important in Judean society, so John is very careful to provide a seven-fold “perfect number” of witnesses.

John’s mission was to promote Jesus – to witness to Jesus and to proclaim Him first. In your time of prayer, ask the Lord to help you promote Jesus in your life.