Although there is little or no confusion today, people in the first century were split on who, when, and where a Messiah might come. It had not yet been revealed to them.
Understandably, some questioned and others confused. In these verses we see that the Holy Spirit, writing through the author, reveals that the true Messiah is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Word of God, the light of all mankind.
Meaning of John 1:6
The man sent from God is John the Baptist, who is not the same Heavenly man discussed in the first five verses—as we will see in the two verses that follow. Nevertheless, John was sent from God.
It is easy for our dull minds to read this verse and find it unremarkable. However, we should not let the dullness of our minds prevent us from seeking God in this passage. For God reveals his glorious and miraculous ways through the Holy Spirit in these words.
Luke, writing of John's birth, notes that Elizabeth, John's mother, was barren and advanced in years (Luke 1:7). Despite her age, and her barren womb, God blesses her with a son to Zechariah (Luke 1:13). A son whom God will send forth with the Holy Spirit to make a people that are prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17). God is fulfilling his promises to save his people (Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3).
Jesus, when speaking of John the Baptist, pronounced him the greatest of all who were born before him (Matthew 11:11). His reason given for John's greatness was that John is the forerunner who declares the Messiah (Matthew 11:9-10). And yet, Jesus also says, John is less than the least of those part of God's kingdom;—less than those who faithfully witness to Christ's victory.
John, though esteemed by Jesus, did not see himself as worthy even to untie Jesus' sandals (John 1:27). Instead, his greatness comes from God sending him forth and using him to prepare the way for the Chosen One (John 1:34). Therefore, when the Holy Spirit here reminds us that God sent John, let us also remember the purpose he was sent.
Meaning of John 1:7-8
The Holy Spirit, wanting us to know and consider the reason John was sent, inspired the author to plainly state it: John the Baptist was sent as witness to the light.
This man who is a light of the world, first mentioned in the fourth and fifth verses, cannot be John. In the seventh verse it is implicitly clear that John, the witness of the light, cannot also be the light. However what is implicitly clear in the seventh verse is explicitly stated in the eighth. We ought to consider this divinely inspired and important; the author is layering points established in the verses prior to this passage (John 1:1-5), and those after it (John 1:9-34) and—where confusion could occur—the Holy Spirit brings clarity to the gospel.
So it is clear then that John is not the light and only the witness. But why is his witness necessary? The Holy Spirit testifies that John's witness is so that 'all might believe through him'. He testified against Israel that they needed to wash themselves of sin and be baptised like the Gentile Proselytes. He told them to repent and believe in he who comes after him, the Messiah. His witness held favour in the eyes of the people and he pointed them all to Christ.
Final Thoughts
John the Baptist played a great role in God's salvation plan, and he did so with humility. However, while some believed John to be a prophet, others confused him as the messiah.
The Holy Spirit inspired the author to be explicit that John only came as a witness to the light and was not the light himself. Although it is easy to skip past these verses as only contextual, they point us to the true Messianic King, our Lord Jesus Christ.
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