“Ille erat lucerna ardens et lucens : vos autem voluistis ad horam exsultare in luce ejus.”
“He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.”
“John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.”
“He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”
“He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.”
[2.] That it was a testimony ad hominem—to the man, because John Baptist was one whom they had a respect for (v. 35): He was a light among you.
Verses 30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them.