For a look at some Background Information on our writer, the Apostle John, see the Disciple Study located for convenient reference in the Appendix. This is provided so as not to piecemeal or obscure each disciple within our main study as they are introduced by the gospel writer.

As learned in our Introduction, Palestine was ruled by Rome under 4 divisions at the time of Christ: (1) Judea and (2) Samaria ruled by Pontius Pilate, the 5th appointed Roman procurator in A.D. 26; and (3) Galilee and (4) Perea ruled by the Idumean Herod.

Except for His infant flight into Egypt, Jesus spent His life within a 70 mile radius of this region: Jerusalem to the South; Sidon on the coast to the north; and Decapolis and Perea to the east.

Polytheism (except for the religious Jew) was the order of the day. Immorality abounded, even among the many "gods." The spiritual aspect of Jewish religion (except among a few, usually the poorer class) was all but extinct. The legalism of the Pharisees and Scribes ruled. Ceremonialism was the yoke that bound the necks of all Jews, especially as one drew nearer to its center in Jerusalem. From A.D. 6, taxation had been levied by the heavy hand of Rome, and in many cases implemented by turncoat publicans. Hope toward a political messiah was at its zenith. Many such self-proclaimed persons were appearing on the scene with their renegade band of followers, only to be discounted by their own actions usually. The region was rife with bands of robbers and Sicarii. The middle class was non-existent. Most were very poor, except for the few aristocrats who bought and sold humans like cattle.

Into this volatile world, Jesus came to establish His Heavenly Kingdom, but the Jew refused Him as their king, declaring they had none but Caesar ( 19:15). Although Jewish by blood and by His own declaration He came to the house of Israel, He was subsequently rejected by His own. However, as He also clearly taught, His kingdom will include anyone from any blood who will hear and respond to His call.

Amidst such a society of extremes—ceremonialism and licentiousness—pockets of purity could be found, albeit few. Like the Essene who lived an ascetic life, across the Jordan to the east lived a lonely figure crying in the wilderness to make straight the path of righteousness for an avenue of access—a bridge between darkness and light, the repentant and Christ. His voice could be heard with such clarity that thousands were drawn to his call. His name was John, commonly called the Baptist, though some considered him to be the prophesied Elijah who would appear at the end of the age. His call was to repentance and His mission was to point all eyes to Christ, this Second Adam, who had come to reclaim the fallen descendants of the first who were willing to listen. This he had known from birth. ( Mal.4:5, Lk.1:44)

Although accepted by his parents, he likely had been considered an outcast from society. And even though he is seen at times appearing among the masses, especially ungodly rulers to condemn their ungodliness, he lived separated to God. His diet was locusts and honey and his raiment was a constant reminder of his human condition and heavenly calling. As his ancient father Abraham, he would live within no city made with the hands of man. Concurrent with his calling, his life was lived in preparation for that eternal city. Likely, as Jesus, he knew that the Jerusalem of Judea was soon to meet its fate. God would not remain silent much longer. Jewish history had taught him well; and now that God was walking among them, incarnate as one of them, like his prophet peer of old, he could not be silent. Although kin by blood, his emotions must have been both humbling and exhilarating when this Eternal One stepped from among the masses upon the shore of Jordan and entered the waters that He Himself had parted for an earlier group crossing from their bondage of slavery, now humanly present with a new come to receive their freedom from sin.

Though in a familiar form, this John knew, as our writer John knew, this was the Eternal Logos who was responsible for all that is, and had now come to return it to the eternal. He would not confuse his purpose with that of his cousin's. There would be no competition for followers. His own reflection would dim as the True Light became more visible. For this, Jesus would pay the highest honor to any human. ( 3:30, Mt.11:11)

In his final days, when he was about to submit his last remaining sacrifice—his own life—for this One he had lived his whole life, the words of Jesus would assure John that his life had not been lived in vain, nor was it about to be taken for naught. Jesus' own works would be sufficient evidence to this John for his heart to surrender to peace in his final hours. Herod may have his head, but Christ had already won his heart. Is not his the example for any whose time would come after him, e.g. Stephen's in his own end, and what of our own loved ones we ourselves have seen pass before our very eyes—a sight of unfathomable peace. Oh heart that pants for His presence, yours will come in its own time! Be patient for now, and work while it is your day, until He finally calls you too to that Eternal Home where never a tear shall again fall.

But enough now of John, as he would have us, we must turn to look no longer at his reflection, but at the Light itself. Imagine the brilliance of that light, so bright that within it is no form of shadow; so bright that no degree of darkness can extinguish it; the Light present In The Beginning, the Light from whom the stars obtained their shinning—that Logos, or Spark of Creation—now walking upon His very footstool, the earth, amidst the crown of His creation, man (cf. Ps.104:2; Ez.1; Acts 9:3; Js.1:17; Rev.4:5). Although many have amusingly attempted, no one really knows the millennia that have passed since He last walked in the cool of the evening with His first; but this day He has chosen to step outside the garden, upon the dry and dusty soil that man has toiled with sweat since. He will walk with His fallen creatures once again, this time as one of them. He will dine with them, laugh with them, cry with them, and in the end, win their hearts. He will die for them! He has come to tell man what He could not in the Garden: He has had a plan all along for his redemption. It was typed in the coat provided him for his fallen condition. He will do now for his soul what he then did for his body. He has been slain from the foundation for this purpose! (Compare: Isa.61:10; Mt.6:33; Rom.5:17; Eph.4:17-24; 6:14; Rev.19:17-18.)

Go now, man, and shout it from the mountain tops: a final acceptable sacrifice has at last been provided. He has come.The garden gate has reopened. Tell it to the world: tell your family, tell your friends, tell the stranger, and bid all to hurry; for it will not remain so forever ( Rev.21:27)!
( Lk.14:23, Lk.17:26)

This is the Lamb the Baptist John has declared. This is the Logos the Apostle has chosen to write. This is the Light of God Himself revealed. Let us listen with whole heart as they speak their message afresh to us this day. And if He is already yours and you His, rejoice in His promises; but if you have not yet come to that life commitment, all they ask is for you to open your heart and hear His voice as it spoke to them, and then you make the choice for yourself; for this is the opportunity given and the duty of all men before passing from this life. Alone, you came into this world, and alone you will leave it. Therefore, you owe it to yourself to put aside for a moment the pressures of your peers, the differing beliefs and non-belief of family and friends, to hear His voice calling through the confusion of theirs; for theirs are such He cannot be heard unless you separate to listen. As He so often said, "He who hath ears to hear, let him hear." If you do not, know this, you will still meet Him as you go, only to realize your tragic failure in securing Him as your eternal Friend. So, dear earthly one, open both eye and ear to what His Spirit may now say to you through John's inspired word. (Compare: Rom.8:30; Jn.10:3,27; Mt.19:27-29; Lk.9:23-26; Mk.10:28-30; Mt.10:32-39; Lk.14:26-27; Jn.6:37-40.)