John 1:6-7 says, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.” God sent John the Baptist, a cousin of Jesus, as an emissary. God also “sent” Jesus (same word, from which we get our English word apostle) from heaven, but the difference is point of origin. Jesus represented God and John represented Jesus. John’s mission was to bear witness, a legal term that means to establish and/or confirm the truth. John’s goal was “that all through him might believe [in Jesus].” Other witnesses appear continuously throughout the Gospel of John. We should see ourselves as continuing that steady and faithful stream of witnesses down through the ages. It’s good to know whom we live for and our predecessors who followed in John’s footsteps.