In verse six we come to the herald of Christ. ‘There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
How careful the inspired word is. ‘There was a man’; how that contrasts with the opening verse – ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ Now it changes, verse six – ‘There was a man’, merely a man. It is John the Baptist.
It is as if God says, ‘I will make it as easy as possible for them. They will reject this light, but nevertheless, to show my mercy and kindness I will make it as easy as I possibly can for the world to recognise Christ. I will send a forerunner.’ This forerunner was even foretold by the last prophet to speak before the long intertestamental period.