The Light of John

"He must increase, and I must decrease."

John 3:30 NKJV

A lamp is meant to illuminate, and what should matter to us is the intensity of the light it emits. I write this because Jesus said of John the Baptist that “he was a burning and shining lamp, and for a short time you were willing to rejoice in his light” (John 5:35): first “burning” and then “shining.” To be “burning” means to burn, to give off heat. Not everyone can see it, but they can feel it—perceive the warmth—just as when we expose ourselves to sunlight. From this perspective, one might say that God does not approve of cold light. The term “shining,” on the other hand, indicates that it emits light—that is, it illuminates and dispels the darkness. Considering that John the Baptist was the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, we might hypothesize that the light also refers to speaking (teaching) with clarity, such as to show the way to those who have lost their way. Furthermore, whether we think of combustion lamps or artificial lights, all sources of light share one characteristic: they burn out. This leads me to believe that the lamps lit “by” and “for” God will not shy away from being consumed for the sake of others, without ever seeking personal glory. Every good Christian will have no ambition to be a star on the ecclesial scene, but only a pilgrim who allows himself to be guided by the “bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16).

John’s light held a secret. To be great, one must first and foremost be—and become—smaller each day, just as the Gospel tells us and the wise man reminds us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33). We need a constant immersion in humility to follow John’s example and avoid taking the place of our Master. We are increasingly swept up by a rampant ideology of possession and appearances, which fails entirely to look into the heart and is contributing to a world with few moral virtues. The growing violence around us suggests that knowing how to lie, seeking the limelight, and commanding respect through force are necessities; otherwise, one is a failure. People prefer to flee from biblical teachings and precepts, because they are considered inconvenient and of no use to our comfort and petty needs. It is increasingly rare to find a humble person—one who does not judge, criticize, boast, despise, exalt themselves, or seek their own glory. Let us strive to reverse this course, for happiness does not lie in climbing higher (above others), but in serving those in need. Christianity has always been recognized more for its actions than for its words. And that is why we love a Gospel that urges us to do more and speak less.

Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon Burning and Shining Lamps, states that “the true prestige and excellence of the minister of the Gospel consist in being, at the same time, a burning and shining lamp.” Even today, ministers of the Word should be men who combine light with warmth, reason with passion, thought with feeling, the head with the heart, study with worship! John the Baptist did not shy away; on the contrary, “he mortified himself and renounced the pleasures of the world; he devoted himself to his work with great diligence and industry; he proclaimed the Word of God impartially and without making any distinctions whatsoever among people; he showed himself humble, rejoicing that Christ’s honor might increase and his own fame diminish, just as the morning star fades as the sun begins to rise; he was faithful and courageous in preaching the truth even at the cost of his life. This is how his light illuminated people.” Let your light shine, whether you are a candle in a corner or a lighthouse on a hill. You and I are not the source of light that can fully illuminate the world, but as far as our eyes can see, as far as our vision extends, we can do our part, because “if your whole body is full of light, with no part in darkness, then it will be completely illuminated, just as when a lamp shines its light upon you” (Luke 11:36).

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #32

August 03, Psalms 63–65; Romans 6

August 04, Psalms 66–67; Romans 7

August 05, Psalms 68–69; Romans 8:1–21

August 06, Psalms 70–71; Romans 8:22–39

August 07, Psalms 72–73; Romans 9:1–15

August 08, Psalms 74–76; Romans 9:16–33

August 09, Psalms 77–78; Romans 10