John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. I. His APPEARANCE. "There came" — suggesting origination, commencement, dependence, mutability, decay, in opposition to the Word whose creature He was (ver: 3). II. His NATURE. "A man." Parted from the Word who was God: although honoured by the near relationship in which he stood to the Word as instrument, minister, herald, and forerunner. III. His NAME. "Jehovah is gracious" — a fitting designation of one whose birth was a gift of grace (Luke 1:18), whose manhood was the flower and fruit of grace (Luke 1:80), and whose life work was to be a publisher of grace (Luke 1:76). IV. His MISSION. 1. In its character, prophetic. 2. In its authority, Divine. 3. In its work, witness-bearing. 4. In its object, saving. V. His RELATION TO THE LIGHT. 1. Negatively. 2. Positively (ver. 8). (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. |
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