“I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness. But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all. Furthermore, you all saw and heard John, and he gave expert and reliable testimony about me, didn’t he?

34-38 “But my purpose is not to get your vote, and not to appeal to mere human testimony. I’m speaking to you this way so that you will be saved. John was a torch, blazing and bright, and you were glad enough to dance for an hour or so in his bright light. But the witness that really confirms me far exceeds John’s witness. (The Message)

According to the Old Testament law, the testimony of two or three witnesses was important (see Num.35:30;Deut.17:6)

The word ”witness’ is a key theme in John’s gospel. In this next section, up to the end of the chapter, Jesus brings forward three witnesses who testify on His behalf. The first is John the Baptist. We have already been introduced to him in the early part of this gospel, and have been privileged to ‘sit under his ministry.’ We have listened to his Jesus-focussed, Christ glorifying ministry. We have seen how he repeatedly pointed away from himself to the Lord, and to His supreme sacrifice. Humanly speaking, John was at the centre of a ‘revival’ movement. Crowds of people flocked to hear him. Yet John was happy to ‘lose his congregation’ to Jesus. He saw himself as the best man, not the Bridegroom; and he was clear that the bride belonged with the Groom.

How highly Jesus rated John. What honour He placed on him:

”John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” (35)

Apparently, there is the idea in these words that John was a lamp that ‘burned up’. His blazing ministry was costly to him. His life was more than just a passing ‘flicker’. But he never lost sight of the fact that Jesus is ”the Light” (John 8:12). He wanted people to come to Christ. It is still God’s purpose that, when we hear John in the gospels, we too should turn to Jesus.

Warren Wiersbe comments about John that ‘…the Jewish people were excited about his ministry. However, their enthusiasm cooled, and nobody lifted a finger to try to deliver John when he was arrested by Herod. The leaders looked on John as a ”local celebrity” (Matt.11:7-8), but they did not want to receive his message of repentance…Whenever God raises up a spiritual leader who commands attention, there is always the danger of attracting people who want to bask in his popularity but not submit to his authority.’

John wants us to look to Jesus alone for salvation; Jesus who is ”…the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29). Although John is dead, he is still speaking. Are we listening?