Witness and Belief (John 1:6-8; 15)
In verse 6 the cosmic, abstractly worded presentation of the Gospel is seemingly interrupted. The writer will do this again in verse 15, but it isn’t an interruption nor a disjointed thought. It grounds the truth of the Gospel message in time and space. The Word is not just an idea, it is reality. The Light has come.
It is here that we are introduced to two other key words in John’s Gospel, ones that will continue to appear along with words like “life” and “light.” God sends a “witness” and he wants people to “believe.”
The Gospel isn’t just a story, it is all about the Story. Before we even see that the Word (the Light, God) became flesh (v. 14) we get a man sent to tell the world about the Light. A man sent to call people to belief. Throughout the rest of this account we will see witness after witness, and the primary task Jesus will give His followers will be to be witnesses. The world is invited to believe based on the testimonies given by these witnesses.
The Gospel is the story of how God entered into His creation in order to redeem it, but it is also much more than that. It is the ongoing story of how God saves each life that trusts in Him. Each person that believes and receives Life has their own chapter to share, and those chapters all have the ability to inspire belief in others. Belief and witness are bound together.
It is here that we are introduced to two other key words in John’s Gospel, ones that will continue to appear along with words like “life” and “light.” God sends a “witness” and he wants people to “believe.”
The Gospel isn’t just a story, it is all about the Story. Before we even see that the Word (the Light, God) became flesh (v. 14) we get a man sent to tell the world about the Light. A man sent to call people to belief. Throughout the rest of this account we will see witness after witness, and the primary task Jesus will give His followers will be to be witnesses. The world is invited to believe based on the testimonies given by these witnesses.
The Gospel is the story of how God entered into His creation in order to redeem it, but it is also much more than that. It is the ongoing story of how God saves each life that trusts in Him. Each person that believes and receives Life has their own chapter to share, and those chapters all have the ability to inspire belief in others. Belief and witness are bound together.
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