THE MYSTERY OF THE ONE WHO CAME AFTER AND BEFORE
John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus (see Luke 1:36). So, in that sense, Jesus came “after” John. Yet the Spirit had revealed to John that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, therefore He had existed “before” John and had preference or status far above John’s. John repeated this explanation when he was baptizing at the Jordan River, saying of Jesus, “It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose” (John 1:27). And when the people wondered whether John was the Messiah, he answered similarly, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16).
John bore witness to both the humanity and the divinity of Jesus Christ in this simple, yet mind-boggling statement. He essentially said, “Jesus came after me as a man, but He was always before me as the Son of God.” What John bore witness to, we can affirm. Jesus became flesh, being born of the virgin Mary. But as the Son of God, Christ has always existed. He was present and active in the creation of the universe (see John 1:1-3). And He was present and active at the cross when He paid the price to redeem His creation.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we are so overwhelmed with wonder and praise. For You loved us so much that You gave us Your Son, “born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-6). He is God in the flesh. What a miracle! We will never be able to praise You enough for Jesus! Strengthen us to praise Him and proclaim Him, in Jesus’ name, amen.