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We are diving into the Gospel of John, specifically looking at the prologue in John 1:6–9 and verse 15.
To understand where we are, it helps to look at how the Gospel of John is structured. It can be broken down into four distinct parts:
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The Light Dawning (The Prologue)
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The Signs of Life (The Book of Signs)
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The Glory of the Cross 4. God’s People Restored for Mission (The Epilogue)
As we look at the prologue, we are introduced to a central figure who sets the stage for Jesus’s ministry: John the Baptist.
“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world… John testified concerning him. He cried out saying, ‘This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.”’” — John 1:6–9, 15
There are a few incredibly interesting theological and historical insights packed into these verses that completely reframe how we view our own lives and faith.
1. The Missing Title: Why Just “John”?
If you read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this man is always given a title: John the Baptist. But in John’s Gospel, he is simply referred to as John.
Why the omission? The author of this Gospel is the Apostle John (the son of Zebedee). Because the author thought so humbly of himself, he never uses his own name in his writing, instead referring to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Because the author completely removes his own name from the narrative, there is no risk of confusing the two Johns. John the Baptist can simply be known as John.
2. “The Math Ain’t Mathing”: The Pre-Existence of Christ
In verse 15, the author includes a parenthetical commentary where John the Baptist cries out: “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.”
On the surface, that makes absolutely no sense. If you remember the Christmas story, John the Baptist was born to Elizabeth, Mary’s older cousin. John was physically born before Jesus. In the ancient world, birth order dictated family hierarchy—the older cousin held more authority than the younger.
Yet, John the Baptist completely flips the cultural script and submits himself to his younger cousin. Why? Because he was tapping into a profound theological reality: Jesus is not simply a human being. He is divine. Even though Jesus was born after John in an earthly sense, He pre-existed John because He is God.
3. The Power of a Play on Words
The text notes that John was a “man sent from God.” The word “sent” shares its root with the word apostle—meaning a “sent one.” He was a regular guy with an extraordinary, divinely appointed mission: to be a witness.
In verse 7, the English translation says, “He came as a witness to testify…” While that is an accurate translation, it loses a beautiful play on words found in the original Greek text: Martyrian Hina Martyrese. Literally translated, it means he was a witness who was witnessing. His entire identity and action were fused into one singular purpose.
Moving Beyond “Nerd Facts”: The Two Mistakes We Make
These insights are great for looking smart at a theology party, but what do they actually mean for us today?
This passage highlights two major errors that the modern, Western church frequently stumbles into.
Error #1: We Make Too Much of Ourselves
We have a bad habit of centering ourselves in God’s story. We see this even in the worship songs we choose, where the lyrics claim that while Jesus was dying on the cross, He was thinking about us above all else. But when Jesus was on the cross, His mind, heart, and spirit were fixed on His Father.
When we make faith all about us, we try to act like the sun. We want to be the center of the universe, burning with our own light. But when we do that, we end up putting our own flawed flesh on display.
We are not the sun; we are the moon. The moon has no light of its own. Its only job is to reflect the light of the sun back into the darkness. When the world looks at us, they should see the character of Jesus reflected clearly. If we are mean, angry, rude, or short-tempered, the world assumes that is what Jesus looks like. We must step out of the center and let Him shine.
Error #2: We Overcomplicate Witnessing
The moment someone mentions “evangelism,” people start to squirm. We assume it means knocking on doors, handing out pamphlets, or getting a PhD in apologetics to argue people into the kingdom.
But John was simply a witness. Think about it in legal terms: if you witness a crime at a local store, you don’t need to go to law school to take the witness stand. The prosecutor doesn’t ask you for a legal dissertation; they simply ask, “What did you see?”
That is our only job. We are not sales representatives or marketers for Jesus. We are called to be a people who can give a reason for the hope we have. When you walk through a dark, painful world with peace, joy, and kindness, people will notice. And when they ask how you do it, your testimony is simple: “Jesus loves me, Jesus saved me, and Jesus gives me hope.”
The Ultimate Question
If you feel like you have nothing to say, it forces a hard, uncomfortable question: Have you actually encountered the living Christ in your life? If you have experienced His grace, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion, then you have a story. You don’t need all the answers. You just need to tell your story. When you are a witness, the focus is never on you—it’s entirely on the one you are testifying about.
This Week’s Challenge
I am not challenging you to go out and aggressively pitch Jesus to five strangers this week—that’s sales.
Instead, I challenge you to spend time reflecting. Recall the ways you have encountered Jesus. Remember how His light first hit your life, and consider how that light is reflecting off you today. When you sit with a friend over coffee who feels weighed down by a hopeless world, be ready to simply and gently share where your hope comes from.
A Prayer for the Week: Heavenly Father, fill our hearts, minds, and souls with the memory of how we have encountered You. Remind us of our story and the grace we have received. Help us to step out of the spotlight so that we can be simple, faithful moons—reflecting the true Light of the World to a dark and hurting society. Amen.