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Commentaries
English
John
  
2. The Baptist prepares the way of Christ
(John 1:6-13)
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.7This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.


God sent John the Baptist into the dark world in order to call people to come to the rays of the divine light. Everyone knows that many sins are committed in the dark. But whoever confesses his guilt before God, repentant and broken-hearted, has come to the light. What about you? Have you come to the light or are you still hiding yourself in the darkness?
The Baptist explained to people the condition of their hearts. In relationship to the law of God, all of them are evil. They need repentance and a fundamental change so that they will not perish on the Day of the Lord. The call of the Baptist shook up the multitudes and people ran to the one who called to repentance in the desert. They confessed their sins openly and asked for baptism in the river Jordan, as a symbol of their purification from sin, the drowning of their selfishness, and their coming to new life from the currents of the river.
God chose John the Baptist. He enlightened him and commissioned him to move all people so that they would come to their senses, change their thinking and get prepared for the coming of Christ. The people of the Old Testament knew much about the one who comes in the name of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah said about him, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2). He also said in the name of the Lord, "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). The Baptist taught that the coming of light into darkness is not confined to the people of the Old Testament, but is open for everybody. Thus the message of the Baptist encompassed the whole world, so that people from Asia Minor and all other regions around the Mediterranean Sea followed him for years after his death.
Thousands followed him in spite of his testimony that he is not the light, but a herald sent before him. He did not point people to himself, but guided them to Christ. This is the clear sign of all true messengers of God, that they do not bind their followers to themselves, but to Christ alone.
The aim of the service of John was not repentance and baptism but faith in Christ. He knew that people hoped he would proclaim that he himself was the Christ. But he did not fall into temptation and prepared the way for the Lord. He knew that the coming Christ was the One who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. John also knew that a psychological repentance in a human being is not enough at all, even if he gets baptized for the remission of sins. Rather, he knew that we all need a complete renewal of our inner being. God did not give him this authority to change hearts, just as he did not give it to any of the prophets in the Old testament. This privilege was reserved for the original light that creates, the life-giving word, which is able to renew a person with his authority when they believe in his name and open up to his light. In this way, John led the multitudes to faith in Christ, knowing that faith alone will carry them over into the new age.
Apollos was a fiery and diligent philosopher, following the teaching of John the Baptist. He preached for the sake of Christ effectively without truly experiencing the light of the new covenant. But when he delivered himself to Christ, light entered his heart and he became light in the Lord and a beacon in darkness. He enlightened many (Acts 18:24-28).

Prayer
O Lord Christ, we magnify you and thank you because you are the light of the world and the hope of the wretched. You enlightened the darkness of our hearts, revealed our sins and forgave them. We thank you because you made us children of light and freed us to eternal life. We ask you that the rays of your light will reach our friends and our relatives that they will experience true repentance and by faith enter your great light.
Question
What are the main aims in the service of John the Baptist?