Language
Ἐγένετο (came )- John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
ἄνθρωπος (man )- John 3:4, “Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old?…'”
ἀπεσταλμένος (having been sent )- Luke 9:2, “And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.”
παρὰ θεοῦ (from God )παρά (from, by), in contrast withἐκ (from, out of), indicates that John’s authority and commission were not self-derived but came directly from God.- James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
ὄνομα (name )- Matthew 1:21-23, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name ‘Jesus,’ for he will save his people from their sins…They shall call his name ‘Immanuel’ (which means: ‘God with us’).”
Insights
The single meaning of John 1:6 is that John the Baptist was divinely commissioned as a forerunner to prepare the way for Christ. His role was to bear witness to the Light (Jesus Christ) so that people might believe through his testimony.
- God Is Authoritative
- John Calvin: “The Evangelist briefly mentions that John was sent by God, implying that his authority comes from God. This is crucial for all teachers of the Church, whose authority to teach must be grounded in God’s calling.”
- God Is Faithful
- By stating, “There came a man,” the text grounds John’s ministry in real history, emphasizing the concrete and historical unfolding of God’s salvation plan. This shows that God’s revelation is not merely abstract but involves real, human agents.
- God Is Love
- John Calvin: “Though Christ declares he does not seek testimony from man (John 5:34), John’s testimony was for our sake, not Christ’s. John was a divinely authorized witness, sent by God, making his testimony powerful and credible.”
- God Is Gracious
- John Calvin: “John’s name was given to him with divine purpose, as it was commanded by the angel. The name ‘Jehohannan’ (
יהוחנן ) could mean ‘acceptable to God,’ but it also points to the benefit others were to receive from his ministry as the herald of divine grace.”
- John Calvin: “John’s name was given to him with divine purpose, as it was commanded by the angel. The name ‘Jehohannan’ (
Matthew Henry: “God gave him (John the Baptist) both his mission and his message, both his credentials and his instructions. John wrought no miracle, nor do we find that he had visions and revelations; but the strictness and purity of his life and doctrine, and the direct tendency of both to reform the world, and to revive the interests of God’s kingdom among men, were plain indications that he was sent of God.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary)
Cross-References
“The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), that meaning must be searched out and ascertained by other places that speak more clearly.” (WCF 1.9)
- John 20:31, “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
- Albert Barnes: “Some have thought that the sole purpose of this gospel was to show that John the Baptist was not the Messiah. However, the main purpose was to show that Jesus was the Christ. To accomplish this, it was fitting, at the outset, to establish that John was not the Messiah.”
- Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.”
- This prophecy is fulfilled in John the Baptist, the messenger sent by God as stated in John 1:6, to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah.
- Isaiah 40:3, “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'”
- John 1:6 introduces John the Baptist, who fulfills this prophecy by preparing the way for Jesus, aligning with Isaiah’s prediction of a voice in the wilderness.
- Luke 1:76-77, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways.”
- Here, Zechariah prophesies about his son John the Baptist, affirming his role as the one sent by God to prepare the way for Christ, as seen in John 1:6.
- Acts 19:4, “And Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.'”
- John’s role as a witness to Christ is echoed here, confirming his purpose in John 1:6 as the one sent to lead people to believe in Christ.
Tri-Perspectivalism
“In the ‘normative perspective,’ we ask the question, ‘What do God’s norms direct us to believe?’ In the ‘situational perspective,’ we ask, ‘What are the facts?’ In the ‘existential perspective,’ we ask, ‘What belief is most satisfying to a believing heart?’” (John Frame, Theology in Three Dimensions)
- God’s Initiative in Salvation – John 1:6 highlights that God is the one who sends the messenger, John the Baptist, to prepare the way for Christ. This demonstrates the normative truth that God takes the initiative in revealing Himself and His plan of salvation to humanity. It aligns with the biblical doctrine of God’s sovereign grace, where He calls and commissions His servants to proclaim His message (cf. Isaiah 6:8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8); Romans 10:15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15))
- Preparation for Christ’s Coming – The situation in John 1:6 shows the importance of preparation for the coming of Christ. John the Baptist was sent at a specific time to prepare Israel for the arrival of the Messiah. In our context, this reminds us that God prepares hearts and situations for His work. Even today, He sends people to proclaim His Word and prepare the way for others to encounter Christ (cf. Malachi 3:1“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1); Mark 1:2-3As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” (Mark 1:2-3)).
- Our Role as Witnesses – On a personal level, John 1:6 challenges us to consider our role in God’s redemptive plan. Just as John the Baptist was sent by God to testify about the Light, we too are called to bear witness to Christ in our own lives. Each believer has the responsibility to point others to Jesus, reflecting His light in a world of darkness. This calls for faithful obedience and a recognition of our place in God’s mission (cf. Matthew 5:14-16“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16); Acts 1:8“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)).
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