John 5:35

Light. Gr. luchnos, “a lamp” (see on ch. 1:9). The apostle John declares concerning the Baptist that “he was not that Light” (v. 8). Rather, John the Baptist was a lamp as compared with Christ, who was “the true Light” (v. 9). As a lamp is no longer needed when the light of day has come, so the work of John was superseded by that of Jesus.

The word translated “burning” is a form of the verb kaid, “to be set on fire,” and thus may imply that John was but a secondary luminary, having himself been “set on fire” by the greater Light.

Ye were willing. In regard to John’s popularity see Matt. 3:5-7; 21:26.

For a season. At the time of the present discourse the public ministry of John had already come to an end, and he apparently was in prison (see on Luke 3:19, 20).