Jews only. (4) May there not be an allusion, in the use of the two terms "life" and "light," to the tree of life and the tree of knowledge in Paradise? IV. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS. "And the Li"'ht shineth in darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not." This points to the p;riod of the fall of man. Life and light suggest the contrasted ideas of death and darkness. 1. Light and darlcness exist side by side in the spiritual world. In the natural world, light expels the darkness, or darkness expels the light. The Light has always been shining, either in nature, providence, or revelation. Christ has never left himself without a wit- ness. The Sun of Righteousness is still shining in darkness. Light is really" come into the world." 2. The darkness neither apprehended nor overoome the light. The light still shines, with an ever-widening border, as the darkness is being chased back. The darkness has not overpowered the light. But it has not any the better understood it or assimilated it. "'!'his is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness r:ither than light, because their deeds were evil." Vera. 6-8.-The witness of the Baptist to the trv.e Light. We now come to the historic manifestation of the Word. I. THE PERSONALITY OF THE BAPTIST. " There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." 1. He was the offspring of pious parents, and his birth was due to miraculous Divine interference. 2. He was a Nazarite in the ascetic aspect of his life. 3. He was the last prophet of the Old Testament dispensatio11,-the link between the prophets of the old and the apostles of the new dispensations. 4. He was the forerunner of the Messiah, who was to come in the power of Elias, to preach the coming of the kingdom of heaven. He was, in truth, "a man sent from God." His forerunnership ended with the baptism of Jesus, who then appeared visibly on the scene of his ministry. But his testimony only ceased with his life. 5. It was by the Baptist that the author of this Gospel was introduced to Christ (ver. 35). II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS TESTIMONY. "The same came for witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe." 1. The witness-bearing was necessary, as the Word was to appear "in the likeness of sinful flesh." Man in his blindness could not well discern him without some testimony. 2. Witness-bearing is a fundamental idea in Christianity. It implies faith, and a body of facts to be believed. 3. It marks a distinct place for human instrumentality, even in connection with the conversion of souls. 4. Its design is to lead to belief. "That all men through him might believe;" that is, through John's witness. (1) "Faith cometh by hearing." As through John's testimony Andrew and John became disciples of Christ, so still through the preaching of ministers are men brought to the Saviour. (2) The essence of the message is universal. It is no longer restricted in its blessings to Israel (Isa. xlix. 6). (3) The scope of the message is not stated. But there can be but one Object of faith- the Lamb of God, the Bridegroom, the Almighty Saviour. IJI. CORRECTION OF A GRAVE MISAPPREHENSION RESPECTING THE BAl'TIST. "He was not the Light, but came that he might bear witness of the Light." 1. Some of the Jews probably imagined that John was the (Jhrist. (Comp. vers.19, 20 with Luke iii. 15.) 2. He was, by our Lord's own witness, "a burning and a sliining light;" rather, a candle, for Christ is himself the true Fountain of all light-the Light itself. 3. It was a sign of the remarkable humility as well as sincerity of the Baptisfs character, that he himself once and again, not only disclaimed the Messiahship, but confessed his own complete inferiority to Christ. He had no inward struggle on effacing himself. "He must increase ; I must decrease." Ver. 9.-The true Light in its manifestation. I. THE NATURE OF Tms LmnT. "There was the true Light." 1. Christ was the true Light, as opposed to false or imperfect lights. He was the ideal Light, not subject to the vicissitudes of time and space. 2. He was the true Light in opposition to ceremonial types and shadows. 3. He was the true Light in opposition to all light that is borrowed from or communicated j'rom another. II. THE EXTENT OF THIS LIGHT IN ITS ACTION. "It lighteth every man." "The <larkness is past: the true Light now shineth." In a strict sense, all men receive the light of reason, and the consciousness of right and wrong; but, biblically considered i6 TliE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [en. 1, 1-61,
Christ shines sunicicntly for the salvation or nll men, l)oth Jews and Gentiles, LIO as to leave them without excuse if in their blindness they refuse to see him. . III. ITs PROGRESS, It was ever "coming into the world," In prophecy, type, creed, Jt1dgment.