A Witness to the Light/为光作见证

约翰福音第1章：6-9节
Sermon on John 1:6-9

These days, occasionally, I have to write references for people. I discovered that it is a process that I do not enjoy. I’m incapable of saying negative things about a person to strangers, and it seems I can only write positive and biased references. As I write, I inevitably question myself if I can ever truly know a person. Do I really know him or her? Is what I’m writing the truth? This leads me to wonder: what about the other way round? Do people really know me? This question is also troubling because I can sometimes tell that people do not really know me. They know a side of me that they prefer to see. They know a side of me that I choose to present. But really, if you think you know me, I would find it hard to believe. How do you know that to be the true me? In the same way, I wonder, how do I know I really know you? Even with my childhood friends, and even my wife, I’m constantly learning new things about them.

This difficulty can only be increased when the subject of inquiry turns conceptual. Do you really know God? Do you really know Love? Do you really know Life? If you are like me, then you must have this uneasy feeling. I seem to think that I know. But when I dig deeper, I don’t have this full assurance that I really know. And if you don’t know, how would you feel if you have to give a reference for the subject? We recently played this ice-breaker in the cell groups, and perhaps you can join in. The discussion question was: How would you introduce “subject X” to a non-Christian? “Subject X” could be the Ten Commandments. X could be God. Think about it. How would you introduce God to a non-Christian friend? When you have to put an introduction into precise succinct words, it is not easy. To introduce God, you have to know God. How do you know your knowledge of God is good and true?

The big word for this branch of philosophy is known as Epistemology, the theory of knowledge.[1] Epistemology discusses 2 main questions: One, what is knowledge and two, how is knowledge acquired? Simplistically speaking, to answer what is knowledge, we need to differentiate between beliefs and truths. A belief can only become a truth through the process of justification. As for the acquisition of knowledge, again it is differentiated into two broad categories. Some would say acquisition of knowledge comes through reason, others would say it is through sensory experience. This basic epistemological framework, though simplistic, is nevertheless very useful as we come to a discussion of knowing God. When we claim our beliefs of God to be true, what are our justifications? Similarly, when we say that God can be known, is it a rational knowledge or an experiential knowledge? In this new liturgical year, we will be looking intently at these questions through the Gospel of John until Easter.

Why are we doing this? It is because that is the way John has chosen to present the Gospel.[2] Through the use of wondrous signs as evidences, compelling sermons as closing arguments, notable characters as witnesses on the stand, John presented a case of inquiry into the identity of Jesus. The Gospel is a careful composition of justifications for the case and eventually John leaves the verdict to us. We are left with the judgment to assess if this belief is the truth. Who are we? We are the jury in this scenario. But we are not the kind of jury that can remain merely spectators. If we choose to affirm the identity of Jesus, then we are forced to acknowledge Jesus as our King, as our Lord, as our God. But if we deny his identity, there is no escape as well. Because if we are wrong in our verdict, then it is treason, we shamed our King, we rebelled against our Lord, and we crucified our God. Let us study the Gospel intently, and hopefully we will make the right call.

At the start of the case, John called the first witness to the stand:
John 1: 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

In our sermon series so far, we have first been introduced to the character John the Baptist, and then we encounter the first claim on the identity of Jesus: In Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men. Today’s sermon develops the argument further. John the Baptist was not the light, he came only as a witness to the light. In simple terms, John the Baptist was the guy who gave a reference for Jesus. The Gospel has made claims about Jesus. Jesus would also make claims about himself. Part of the justifications of these claims would come from John the Baptist. He would be the guy to back up the claims of Jesus. But I guess it begs the question: How can we believe John’s claims? Even if he is truthful and honest, could he have been mistaken about Jesus? Can anybody truly know another person?

Let me tell you about an incident that almost landed me on TV. On my family’s last day in Taiwan, we visited a fishball shop. Just as we were about to start eating, a mic was thrust into my face. A TV station was doing a report on the shop. So they were collecting video footage on feedback from the customers. The show host asked me, “Do you like the food here?” I replied, “Well, this is my first time here, and I haven’t even taken a bite.” “Ok, take a bite and tell us how you feel.” Now, at this moment, I’ve watched enough of these types of shows to know that if I say something impressive, I stand a good chance to be featured on TV as one of the people recommending the shop. I took a bite. And perhaps out of performance anxiety, I drew a blank on all the descriptive words. Instead of words that describe graphically and perhaps dramatically how delicious it was, I blurted out, “I think the taste is very authentic (道地)”. “What do you mean by authentic?” Again, a blank. And along with the awkward silence and my dumbfounded expression, there goes my chance for 5 seconds of fame.

For the next couple of days, I kept scolding myself for my silly response. The scene of the bite and my words to the camera kept replaying in my mind. Of all things, I have to say something like “authentic taste”, and back myself into a corner which left me totally helpless. Then it struck me. I was eating Foochow fishballs, the kind with meat inside. And I’m a Foochow. I should have said in Foochow, “I’m a Foochow” and this is authentic Foochow taste. I should have proclaimed, “In all my years of eating Foochow fishballs, this is what Foochow fishballs should be”. If only I had said those words, I’m sure the editors would have included this footage of me as a superb endorsement of the shop. Why? It is because we all understand the value of a recommendation from a local (在地人). Whether it is a shop which is a must-try, or a tip from a business insider, or the assessment from a subject expert, we understand that the guy who is “nearest” to the subject knows it better. We have learned to trust information from the true blood (正港) insider.

Why am I telling this story? Here we are, on an inquisition on the identity of Jesus. I believe what would be really helpful is the true local guy giving us that reference of authenticity, and leading us closer to the truth. But one might argue, that Jesus just appeared out of nowhere. We know nothing much about his first 30 years, except maybe through stories of his birth. Is there any local guy near enough to Jesus who can give an informed reference about him? Thankfully, “the story of Jesus is not ultimately a story about Jesus; it is, in fact, the story of God.” Jesus is ultimately about God’s self revelation to humanity. So we don’t need somebody who knows Jesus. Instead, what we really need is somebody who knows God. The one who knows God will know who Jesus is, or at least who Jesus is supposed to be. John the Baptist was that local guy, which makes him uniquely qualified to give the reference. What makes John the local guy? To understand this, let’s look at a little story also found in the Gospel of John.

John 3: 22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

In this story, John’s disciples came reporting to John when they heard that Jesus and his disciples were also baptizing and apparently attracting more people. They presumed John would be jealous of Jesus’ popularity, especially since John started the “business” earlier. John explained to them that the bride, which is Israel the people of God, belongs to the bridegroom, who is Jesus the King. His role was like the best man, who was supposed to prepare the bride for the groom, not to snatch the bride away. Hearing the news from the disciples about Jesus’ popularity only made him joyful because that means that his job had been done, and done well. However, what I wish to highlight from this story are the verses 27 and 31. In verse 27, John revealed that his mission actually came from heaven. He was like a special agent on a special assignment for the President, or somewhat like the sole authorised dealer for the company. He was heaven-sent. Then in verse 31, we learn that the subject of inquiry, namely Jesus, was also from heaven. This was what made John the local guy, uniquely gifted to identify and introduce Jesus. Because Jesus was from heaven, only the one entrusted by heaven could be his witness. In the journey to know Jesus, John was the local guy because he was the one with the heaven connection. Of course, one might say that since this is just John’s personal claims, it is only as good as his own trustworthiness. However, the next story would reveal that it was not just John, but also the general public, even his detractors, who believed his authority was indeed from heaven.

Matthew 21: 23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The people had experienced the ministry of John, and they could attest that John’s ministry was from heaven. I believe that the Jewish leaders felt it too, which was why they sent people to ask him who he was. Sadly, due to their selfish reasons, they did not believe him. Nonetheless, from the response of the people, it is implied that John was right about his identity. The divine nature of his ministry had manifested and was authenticated by others. He was the messenger from heaven to herald about the coming of the promised one from heaven. He was the true local guy who could give the best possible reference for the identity of Jesus.

Every year, at this time of the year, the Advent period prepares us for Christmas, the coming of Christ. Every year we are reminded of John the Baptist, the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ That was part of his ministry as he prepared the heart of the people so that they were ready for his witness to the light. As I reflect on his work, I realize just how tough and daunting it was. We often say that we want to see God or to experience him. Where is God when I need him the most? Yet, when God acts, are we really ready for him? When God comes would we truly recognize him? Or perhaps, we are too immersed in our own world and our own desires and issues to wonder about what God wants to do. John the Baptist knew God. And he knew that God was coming to his people. To the darkness, he cried, “that’s the true light, he is coming!” Repent! Get ready for this. Accept the light. The Baptist has done his part. His reference letter for Jesus, his testimony as a witness, is waiting in your inbox. Is your heart ready?

At the beginning of the sermon, we wondered if we could ever truly know a person, let alone know God as a person. The good news is that God wants to be known. He speaks his will to his people through his word. And in Jesus Christ, the word became flesh and dwelled amongst us. The world may not recognize the one from heaven, but God has prepared a witness as well. When we gather every Sunday, I know it is a sign that we want to know God more and more. At the start of this new liturgical year, let us prepare our hearts well to accept Jesus once again. Through his witnesses, through his signs and his sermons, through his glory revealed at his death and resurrection, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, we will know Jesus and we will know the Father. Let our lives be transformed and shine as light empowered by the true light himself.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology
[2] “The Gospel of John shows God pressing a lawsuit and man pressing a counter-suit against God. [A. T. Lincoln] demonstrates that John uses quite a bit of legal language such as "witness," "testimony," "judgment," "paraclete," and even the double "amen" (truly, truly). Over and again he connects these passages with those in Isaiah 40-55 and with some in other Old Testament books to show that the truth was presented in John in the form of a trial. It is not merely a trial that was faced by Jesus but a continuous cosmic trial which in many ways continues in the present.” Quoted from J.B. Hughes’ Amazon review of Andrew T. Lincoln’s work “Truth on Trial”