8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Verse 8 makes it clear where the focus of our message belongs.
8 He [emphatic] was not that Light,
This phrase is a disclaimer that gives us perspective about the place of John the Baptist in God’s plan. The place of John in God’s scheme of things was to play a subordinate role to Jesus.
but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John the Baptist was a spark to ignite the Light to the world.
PRINCIPLE:
Our focus in ministry is Jesus Christ.
APPLICATION:
We live in a day when some people put preachers on a pedestal. Christ called John a “lamp that burns and shines” A lamp does not have inherent light of its own and has to be carried by someone else (5:35). That is the role of the preacher, a subordinate role to Jesus Christ. The true Light is our Lord Jesus Christ, the sovereign Son of God.
