John was a lamp that burned and gave lightJohn the Baptist is described as a "lamp," indicating his role as a forerunner to Christ, illuminating the path for others to see the coming Messiah. In biblical times, lamps were essential for providing light in darkness, symbolizing guidance and revelation. John's ministry was marked by his call to repentance and preparation for the coming of Jesus, as seen in
Isaiah 40:3, which prophesies a voice crying in the wilderness. His burning zeal and commitment to his mission reflect the fervor with which he proclaimed the truth, much like the prophets of the Old Testament. The imagery of light is significant throughout Scripture, often representing truth, holiness, and the presence of God, as seen in
Psalm 119:105 and
John 1:4-9.
and you were willing for a season to bask in his light
The phrase "for a season" suggests a temporary acceptance and enthusiasm for John's message among the people. This reflects the initial widespread interest and excitement about his ministry, as crowds came to hear him preach and be baptized (Matthew 3:5-6). However, this enthusiasm was short-lived, as many did not fully embrace the deeper implications of his message or the coming of Christ, leading to a decline in his following once Jesus began His public ministry. This temporary acceptance can be seen as a reflection of human nature's tendency to be drawn to charismatic figures and new teachings without a lasting commitment, as illustrated in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:20-21). The phrase also highlights the transient nature of human approval and the need for a deeper, enduring faith in Christ, who is the true Light of the world (John 8:12).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
John the BaptistA prophet and forerunner of Jesus Christ, known for his role in preparing the way for the Lord. He is described as a "lamp" in this verse, symbolizing his role in illuminating the truth and pointing others to Christ.
2.
Jesus ChristThe speaker in this passage, who acknowledges John the Baptist's role and contrasts it with His own eternal light.
3.
The Jewish LeadersThe audience to whom Jesus is speaking. They initially showed interest in John's message but failed to fully embrace the truth he pointed to—Jesus Himself.
4.
The Ministry of John the BaptistA significant event in the New Testament, where John called people to repentance and baptized them, preparing them for the coming of Jesus.
5.
The Light MetaphorA recurring theme in the Bible, representing truth, guidance, and revelation from God.
Teaching Points
The Role of a WitnessJohn the Baptist's life exemplifies the role of a witness, pointing others to Christ. As believers, we are called to be lights in the world, reflecting Jesus' light to those around us.
Temporary vs. Eternal LightWhile John was a temporary light, Jesus is the eternal Light of the world. We should seek to follow and abide in the eternal light of Christ rather than temporary sources of inspiration.
Responding to God's RevelationThe Jewish leaders' temporary interest in John's light serves as a cautionary tale. We must not only be intrigued by God's revelation but also fully embrace and live by it.
The Importance of PreparationJust as John prepared the way for Jesus, we are called to prepare our hearts and lives for His return, living in a manner that reflects His kingdom values.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of John 5:35?
2.How does John 5:35 inspire us to be a "burning and shining lamp"?
3.What qualities made John the Baptist a "burning and shining lamp"?
4.How can we reflect Christ's light in our daily interactions with others?
5.What other scriptures emphasize being a light in the world?
6.How can we maintain our spiritual fervor as John did in John 5:35?
7.What does "He was a burning and shining lamp" mean in John 5:35?
8.How does John 5:35 relate to the role of John the Baptist?
9.Why is John the Baptist described as a "lamp" in John 5:35?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 5?
11.How does 119 Ministries view Old and New Testament relations?
12.What is the meaning of 'Angel of Light'?
13.How can we live in truth and love through God?
14.What are the unfruitful works of darkness?What Does John 5:35 Mean
John Was a Lamp• In calling the Baptist “a lamp” (John 5:35), Jesus affirms John’s God-given role as a witness, not the source of light itself (cf.John 1:6-8,Malachi 4:5-6).
• Like a lamp placed on a stand (Matthew 5:15), John’s ministry was meant to be seen, pointing others to the coming Messiah rather than drawing attention to himself (John 3:30).
A Lamp That Burned• “Burned” suggests fervor and sacrifice—oil consumed so the flame can shine (Leviticus 24:2-4). John’s fiery preaching of repentance (Luke 3:3) cost him comfort, popularity, and ultimately his life (Mark 6:17-29).
• Genuine ministry always involves personal cost (2 Timothy 3:12), yet God honors the servant who remains aflame with truth (Romans 12:11).
And Gave Light• The lamp’s purpose is illumination; John’s proclamation exposed sin (Luke 3:7-14) and revealed Christ as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29).
• That light prepared hearts for Jesus, the true “Light of the world” (John 8:12). Any faithful witness today reflects His light, never competing with it (Philippians 2:15-16).
You Were Willing for a Season• Jesus tells His listeners they gladly accepted John “for a season,” highlighting a temporary enthusiasm (Matthew 21:26).
• Their applause faded when John’s call to repentance pressed too close (Luke 7:33). Superficial approval without lasting obedience mirrors Israel’s pattern of momentary zeal (Psalm 78:34-37,Hosea 6:4).
To Bask in His Light• “Bask” implies enjoying the benefits of a godly messenger without embracing the deeper commitment he demanded (John 3:19-20).
• It is possible to admire spiritual insight yet resist surrender (Acts 26:27-28). True discipleship moves from appreciation of light to walking in it (1 John 1:7).
SummaryJohn the Baptist served as a God-lit lamp—burning with passion, shining with truth, and pointing unmistakably to Jesus. Many rejoiced briefly in that glow but failed to let it lead them into lasting repentance and faith. Scripture invites us not merely to enjoy the light of faithful witnesses, but to follow it all the way to Christ, the eternal Light who never fades.
(35)
He was a burning and a shining light.--Better,
He was the lamp that is lighted and (then)
giveth light. The statement of the Prologue, "He was not the Light, but came to bear witness of the Light" (
John 1:8), shows how important this change is. The word rendered "light" occurs again in
Matthew 5:15;
Matthew 6:22;
Mark 4:21;
Luke 8:16;
Luke 11:33-34;
Luke 11:36;
Luke 12:35;
Luke 15:8;
2Peter 1:19;
Revelation 18:23;
Revelation 21:23;
Revelation 22:5. The reader who will take the trouble to com pare these passages, will see clearly the difference in the Greek words. It should be
lamp in all these instances. The article in "
the lamp" is to be explained from a reference to the one lamp of every home. (Comp. Notes on
Matthew 5:15 and
Mark 4:21.) The term was in common use to denote a distinguished hero or teacher. The Rabbis were often called "Lamps of the Law," and David was "The Lamp of Israel" (
2Samuel 21:17). Comp. the remarkable parallel spoken of the Baptist's great prototype, "Then stood up Elias the prophet, as fire, and his word was kindled like a lamp" (
Ecclesiasticus 48:1). Others explain the words here of the promised lamp which was to appear, or of the torchbearer who lights the bridegroom's path. . . .
Verse 35. -
He was the lamp (
λύχνος, not
φῶς)
that burneth and shineth. He was not the Light, but came to bear witness to the Light (
John 1:8). The glory of his appearance was a derived or kindled illumination (cf.
Matthew 6:22;
2 Peter 1:19). (It is not against this inference that in
Revelation 21:23 the Lamb is the Lamp of the New Jerusalem.) The household lamp or torch, when kindled, burns with more or less brilliance, but burns itself out, exhausts itself. One may walk in the light of it, see the way one should take, discharge duties that would otherwise be impossible, avoid perils that might without the lamp prove disastrous or destructive; but the capacity of the torch is soon reduced to a minimum. Bengel, Stier, Alford, think that the celebrated passage in Ecclus. 48:1 may be referred to: "Then stood up Elijah the prophet like as a fire, and his word burned as a lamp." This is not impossible, though it would stand alone as a distinct reference in the Gospels to any apocryphal book. Lunge has given a long series of the lamp and fire symbols of the Old Testament; the group of events in which the Lord appeared in flames of fire and clouds of glory, from
Exodus 3 to
Malachi 3:2, affirming John to be "the flame signal of Messiah, the last Old Testament form of the pillar of fire and candlestick of the temple, therefore the lamp at once flaming and shining." More than this, and more to the point, we find that, under the figure of lamps of fire, the messengers of God, the activities of the Church, here repeatedly set forth (cf.
Matthew 5:14-16;
Matthew 25:1-8;
Revelation 1:20;
Philippians 2:15). John was
the burning lamp, not the archetypal Light.
Ye desired for a season to rejoice in his light. Many interpretations have been suggested, such as the exultation of a wedding party in the brief light of the torch bearer, announcing the approach of the bridegroom; or the dancing of ephemerides in the glitter of a lamp. The metaphor is lost in the solemn memory of the high gratification for a season which the populations of Judaea, Galilee, and the wilderness had manifested on the apparition of the great prophet. The universal acclaim soon subsided. The leaders of the people fell back when they heard John's call to repentance. Publicans and harlots pressed into the kingdom before the scribes and Pharisees. "The generation of vipers" did to John "whatsoever they listed." The secular power hushed his voice and crushed the man. "For a season" only did they listen to his word or respond to his challenge. His great testimony, though given to him by God, and by no means proceeding from his mere human consciousness, had been in the main unheeded. Wunsche quotes from 'Sota,' fol. 21,
a, "Rabbi Menahem said that Solomon (
Proverbs 6:23) compares 'prayer' with 'lamp,' and 'teaching' with 'light,' because the one flashes for the twinkling of an eye, comforts in the moment during which it shines; while the other, like the shining of the sun, burns evermore, and leads to eternal rest."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
[John]Ἐκεῖνος(Ekeinos)Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1565:That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.wasἦν(ēn)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.aὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.lampλύχνος(lychnos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3088:A lamp. From the base of leukos; a portable lamp or other illuminator.thatὁ(ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.burnedκαιόμενος(kaiomenos)Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2545:To ignite, light, burn, lit. and met; I consume with fire. Apparently a primary verb; to set on fire, i.e. Kindle or consume.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.gave light,φαίνων(phainōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5316:Prolongation for the base of phos; to lighten, i.e. Show.andδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.youὑμεῖς(hymeis)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.were willingἠθελήσατε(ēthelēsate)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2309:To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.forπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.a seasonὥραν(hōran)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610:Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.to baskἀγαλλιαθῆναι(agalliathēnai)Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 21:To exult, be full of joy. From agan and hallomai; properly, to jump for joy, i.e. Exult.inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.light.φωτὶ(phōti)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5457:Light, a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.
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NT Gospels: John 5:35 He was the burning and shining lamp (Jhn Jo Jn) 
