The Gospel of John: John 1.15

Read and meditate on John 1.15.
Just as John has begun to elaborate on the Word – Who He is and what He’s like – so now he gives us more details concerning John the Baptist, whom he introduced in verses 6-8. John’s approach to telling his story is obviously gradual – line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little (cf. Is. 28.9, 10). People tend to learn in increments, and this is a good thing to keep in mind as we read John’s story of the Word-become-flesh, and as we, like John the Baptist, bear witness to that story in our own time.
       
                                     ¹⁵John witnessed to
Him, crying out and saying, “He of Whom
I said, ‘He Who comes after me before
me is to be preferred, because before
me He existed’ – this is He!” 

- John 1.15

Reflect
1.  John’s witness consisted of speaking. But what he spoke seems a bit enigmatic, would you agree? Summarize the gist of John’s message, as the apostle reports it in this verse. How might you say that in your own words? Complete this prayer: Lord, You have always existed, but I am a person who is here for a brief time only. Therefore…

2.  John uses two verbs to describe the manner of John’s witnessing. What’s the meaning of each of these? How do they differ? What kinds of emotions does each verb suggest? Should our witness to the Word-become-flesh be like this? Lord, when I think about bearing witness to You…

3.  John’s witness pointed those who heard it to unseen and eternal realities. He flatly says that these are to be preferred before whatever we might encounter in time and space. Why? How is it evident in your life that you prefer unseen and eternal things above here-and-now things? Lord, my priorities are…

4.  What do we expect of a witness in a court room? Was John the Baptist doing something like this? How about John, in writing his gospel? Do you think being a witness to the Word-become-flesh should have more of a priority in your life? Why or why not?  Show me today, Lord, how I…

5.  John said, “This is He…” but we still have not met Him. John the writer continues to hold off telling us the specific identity of the Word-become-flesh. He seems to want the drama to build a bit, to create some longing or anticipation in his readers about this mysterious Person. How might you take John the Baptist’s witness and put it in your own words? How do you think someone might respond to such a word of witness? Bring together your brief prayers from questions 1-4 into a single prayer.

Summary
“John admitted that he was a lamp lit from Christ, and that is why he took refuge at his feet, to avoid being blown out by the wind of pride if he flew too high. He was in fact so great that some people thought he might be the Christ, and if he had not been his own witness that he was not, the mistake would have persisted, and people would have gone on thinking he was. What a humble man.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

John was sent by God to be a witness to the Word-become-flesh. He did what he was appointed to do, and he did it with all diligence, excellence, and urgency. What can we learn from John about our calling to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1.8)?

Closing Prayer
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He isgood!
For His mercy enduresforever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

Psalm 107.1-3

Psalm 107.1-3 (Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
Lord, You are good, we give thanks and we praise You!
Your steadfast love will forever endure.
Let the redeemed, who from trouble You rescue,
Gather and say that Your mercy is true.
  Lord, for Your wondrous works, and for Your steadfast love,
  We give You thanks, we exalt Your great Name!
  We who from east and west, north and south gather,
  Boldly redemption in Christ we proclaim!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.