John 1:7 The same came for witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
A Healthy Reflection
In the very first chapter of the book of John, we are introduced to two very important people. One is God Himself, God the Son, God Incarnate, Jesus Christ. The second is John, a human like you and me. We find a very important truth in the comparison between John and the Lord Jesus: a believer is at his healthiest when he is but a reflection of the Lord Jesus.
In John 1, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the Word and the Light. Well, who was John? He was not that Light, but he was a witness of the Light. People asked John if he was the Messiah. John could have given a response intended to enhance himself in the eyes of others by making them think that perhaps he was the Messiah. Instead, John became impatient, saying, “I am not the Messiah. I am not. No.” He then said, “I am the voice.” So John wasn’t the Light: he was a witness of the Light. John wasn’t the Word: he was merely the voice that gave it utterance. John reflected Christ so well that some thought that he was the Christ.
There are two important lessons to glean from John. The first is that to take credit is to rob God. John could have done that in two ways, but he didn’t. In the first instance, John negatively responded by saying, “I am not the Christ. I am not. No.” He wasn’t about to take credit for Who Jesus is or what Jesus does. Who Jesus is was manifest in who John was. What Jesus does was manifest in what John did. But he replies, “No, I am not the Christ.”
The second example is the positive way in which John went after people to inform them of who he, John, was and who Christ is. John 1:35-36 says, “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples: and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” Now these were John’s disciples, and I think that a man as unique and bold as John would have very distinct disciples. I don’t think there is anything wrong with our capturing some part of the teacher that taught us, but ultimately any disciples you make should belong to Christ. John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” and the two disciples heard him and followed Jesus.
John used the power of his personality to point people to the magnificence of Jesus Christ. What about you? Are you a reflection of Christ? Are you giving credit for who you are to Who Christ is? And are you making disciples, not for yourself, but for the Lord Jesus?