John the Baptist (not to be confused with John, the writer of this Gospel) was the last of the Old Testament prophets.  He was specially appointed by God to announce Jesus as the 'Light of the world' (John 8:12).  Although he drew great crowds, John stressed he was not the Light that people should follow.  His role, after 400 years of divine silence since Malachi wrote his prophecy, was to command people to repent of their sin and get ready for God's arrival.  John the Baptist was like the prophet Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6) - the purpose of prophecy is always to draw people back to God's covena

This verse continues from the previous one which said: “He [Jesus] came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11).  But there were some who did receive Him – they are identified as those who ‘believed in His Name’.  What does that mean?  To ‘believe in His name’ means ‘to trust Him as a person knowing the integrity of His character and the authority of His commission’.  Some people did that.

In this verse, John the Apostle is speaking about another John, John the Baptist, who was Jesus' cousin and about six months older than Him (Luke 1:26-28).  In Jesus' day, as in many cultures now, older people were honoured more than those who were younger.  So, the 'elders' in the community were the older men, who were recognised as having wisdom; and a younger brother would be expected to serve his older brother.  That sense of deference was expected throughout the extended family and the community.  However, when Jesus came to where John was baptising, John said that the younger man (Jes

Father God does not have a body.  As Jesus said, “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)  And yet God has revealed Himself throughout history as His prophets spoke out His message, urging people to return to obey the covenant in God’s Law.  But at no time did anyone see God; even Moses, who specifically asked to see Him (Exodus 33:18-23).  However, Jesus Christ has been seen and John’s Gospel is one of four documentary accounts of His life on earth.  He was God’s final and complete revelation of Himself to human beings as Hebrews 1: