With the first portion of John’s prologue speaking about the Word’s eternal divinity (“the Word was with God, and the Word was God”) and cosmic activity (“all things were created through him”; “that life was the light of men”), why is the middle portion concerned with John the Baptist (vv. 6-9)?
The Old Testament pointed forward to a messenger whom God would send as a forerunner to the Messiah. In Isaiah 40:3, a voice is described as crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.” Malachi 3:1 reads, “See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me.”
John the Baptist was not the light but pointed to the light, namely, to Christ, the eternal Word, the One who shines life-giving light to humanity. John the Baptist came to testify of Him: “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me’” (John 1:15).
The forerunner himself therefore testified that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah who was and is the eternal Word. The One about whom the forerunner testified actually existed before him, moreover, before anyone. The One to come was in a cosmic sense before the forerunner. The One who was to come, in other words, is the One who always is—the Great I AM.
Do not lose sight of the staggering significance of the incarnation this Christmas. John the Baptist, the last in line of the old-covenant prophets, prepared people for the coming of the Messiah who is also God. He prepared the way of the Lord, the Lord who was the God of Israel. The true light indeed was coming into the world (John 1:9).
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults
Every week for Volume 4: From Captivity to the Wilderness, Ken Braddy, Lifeway’s director of Sunday School, will offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Adults.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Students
Every week, student ministry leaders offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Students. Listen in as he shares:
- The main point of the session
- Any challenges and opportunities for additional discussion that may arise during this session
- Encouragements for leaders
Podcast (studentsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
A Final Reminder
Don’t forget, you can find tools to help you prepare and lead the discussion in the Additional Resources for this volume. We hope these are a blessing to you as you walk through this session together.
*This week’s leader devotional is written by Afshin Ziafat. It is adapted from the daily devotions for Unit 28, Christmas Session from The Gospel Project for Adults’ Daily Discipleship Guide.
