“You have sent to John and he has born witness to the truth. But the witness which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you might be saved. He was a kindled and a shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.”
That earthly witness is John the Baptiser. John, with his message of the imminence of the work of God, had received some acceptance for a while, even among many Jewish leaders, for they too were looking for God to work, although of course they were confident that whoever came would work with and through them. And many of them had rejoiced in his light. Well, they should recognise that John, who was highly regarded by so many, bore testimony to Him and revealed the truth about Him.
They had accepted John as a shining lamp, a revealer of truth, although he was only a kindled lamp in comparison with the One Who was the permanent and original light of the world. Then let them accept his testimony about Jesus. But they must understand that He was only saying this so that they might listen and be saved from their present darkness. He Himself did not need the testimony of men. He has a greater witness than John.