“He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” John 5:35
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. He called people to confess their sins and repent. He pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world… This is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit” (1:29, 33).
Jesus says, “You were willing to rejoice for a while in his light” (5:35). These people once had light! At one time they found joy in the truth! But now they are angry with Jesus and ready to be done with him.
It is possible for a person to lose the light he or she once had. Our Lord makes this very clear: “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you” (12:35). These people once walked in the light, but the darkness has overtaken them.
Maybe you are in that position today. You once had some interest in Christian faith. At one time you were involved in ministry, and you found joy in it, but that is no longer true of you. You are in a different place. There is a hardness in your heart that you can’t really explain yourself.
See the great love that Jesus Christ has for you today. He wants you to be saved. He wants to bring you from that awful state of spiritual death, where the judgment of God is before you, to the new life in which the judgment of God is behind you. And because he loves you, he speaks the truth to you. That truth may not be easy for you to hear, but it is the truth that can set you free.
Can you see a glimpse of Jesus’ love for you today?