peculiar power and brilliancy, a *' burning " and a " shining" light like a flaming beacon or light-house seen from afar.
I think the expression '' he was " shows that at the time when our Lord spoke, John the Baptist was either in prison or dead. At any rate his public ministry was ended. " He used to be a light. He is burning and shining no longer."
Chrysostora remarks, — " He called John a torch or lamp, sig- nifying that he had not light of himself, but by the grace of the Spirit."
[ Ye were willing for a season to rejoice^ This refers to the ex- traordinary popularity and acceptance of John the Baptist when his ministry first began. " Then went out unto him Jerusalem and all Judasa, and all the country round about Jordan." (Matt, iii. 5.) " Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptism." (Matt. iii. 7.) It was an ignorant excitement that brought many of John's hearers to him. They thought most pro- bably, that the Messiah, of whom he spoke, and whose way he came to prepare, would be a temporal king and conqueror, and would give to Israel its old pre-eminence on earth. But be the motives what they miglit, the fact remains that John's ministry attracted immense attention, and awakened the curiosity of the whole Jewish nation. "They willingly rejoiced in the light which John lifted up," They seemed to take pleasure in coming to him, hearing him, following him, and submitting to his bap- tism.
The expression, *' for a season," seems purposely used to remind the Jews of the very temporary and transitory nature of the im- pressions which John's ministry produced on them.
Stier remarks, — "Man generally, even a prophet, can only give light by burning, like a lighted candle, until he is burnt out, and his mission on earth ceases. Thus did the Baptist burn, brightly but rapidly."
Burkitt remarks, — " It has been an old practice among profes- sors not to like their pastors long, though they have been never such burning and shining lights, John was not changed, but his hearers were changed. He did burn and shine in the candlestick with equal zeal and lustre to the last, but they had changed their thoughts of him,"
3. — \^But I h-ave greater witness. ..John^ This means, " although John the Baptist was a witness to My being the Messiah, and the Son of God, his was not the only testimony I bid you receive. There is testimony even more important than his, namely, that My miracles." The Greek means literally, " the greater wit- ness;"— " The witness tiiat I l^ve is greater."