This is what John the Baptist knew about this Messiah: that he surpassed him. John knew that Jesus was the one who came after him chronologically, as well as logically, as the one for whom he was preparing the way. But just because Jesus succeeded John, it did not mean that the Lord Jesus was inferior to John. Quite the opposite—because John was testifying about someone who was before him.
And if we were to take that statement at surface value, it would be a vast understatement. John doesn’t just mean that Jesus is older than him in mere human chronological years. We know from the prologue to the apostle John’s gospel—in which we are reading these words—that the Lord Jesus is the one who is the Word, and who always has been the Word. The Word (with a capital W) who was with God, and who was God. Who was with God in the beginning. The one through whom all things were made. The one of whom we can say, “Without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Therefore, he is the uncreated one. This is the one John is talking about—because the apostle John tells us that this Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and that John the Baptist testified concerning him. So that’s how far before John the Baptist this Jesus was—he was before John eternally speaking.
Do you see it? Have you diminished the Lord Jesus too much, as if he is too small in your estimation? Do you think too little of him? He surpasses John the Baptist. He created the world. He is Lord and God, Jesus Christ. There are no words you can state about him that are too superlative. Jesus is superior; he’s above all creation. Everything was created through him and for him. He is before all things; by Jesus all things hold together. Worship this Saviour.
