Third Sunday in Advent: Gospel, John 1:6-8, 19-28                 

John 1:6-8, 19-28

There is a piece of our gospel text that has always intrigued me. It’s one of those little bumps in the story that stop me every time I begin the marvelous gospel through John. The setting is John the Baptist, cousin of the Christ, preaching at the Jordan. “Questioners” come to him asking him if he himself is the Messiah, their Jewish title for the long-awaited One. John responds, “I am not the Christ.”

But a few paragraphs before this, John sets the stage by describing briefly the herald of the King. 

“He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light” (John 1:7-8).

Twice in that brief passage we have the beloved apostle noting that John the Baptist bore witness to the light. In other words, and this is that most intriguing point, the Light to which John bore witness, needed his “help” for people to see Him, to identify who He was. Have you ever heard of light being outside the realm of being seen? Other than for those who do not have the faculty to see. But then, perhaps that is the precise point the gospel writer and the Baptist were trying to make clear. You and I, the ones for whom the Light was sent cannot see Him unaided. We need guidance. And the Baptist in the Jordan was precisely that, and continues to ring out the Holy Spirit’s voice to point to Christ as He always does. 

The issue is this: the human heart is so drastically darkened by sin that it cannot see Light. Don’t ever allow yourself to fall into the trap that anyone can hear about the Savior and just make up their own minds about the truth. No! The truth must be given. And received. And the work of the Baptist proves it. I cannot see the Light sent from heaven without heavenly aid. The Light was sent and given for all. God grant that during this Advent season myriads will see and embrace that Light. God grant the help we need. Amen!