John bore witness of Him [Jesus] and cried out, saying,
"This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me."
John 1:15 (NKJV)
John the Baptist made a profound point in this passage.
"He was before me."
At first this seems strange because Luke's gospel makes it very clear that John was at least six months older than Jesus (Luke 1:36).
How then could John possibly proclaim that Christ was before him? Is John confused?
Or worse, is the Bible contradicting itself?
We often make the mistake of thinking that Jesus' life began when He came into this world as a babe in Bethlehem. But God's Word reveals that Christ existed long before this sacred event.
It tells us that before the world was ever created, before time itself, He was eternally existent and in perfect union with God the Father:
"And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."
(John 17:5 NKJV)
"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
(John 17:24 NKJV)
John understood this, and therefore could say that Jesus was before him, even though He was born after John.
It's imperative that we also understand this because it provides a strong source of security to know that Jesus transcends time. His abiding presence was there before the beginning and will remain after the end of all things.
When all else has faded, broken, or worn out, Jesus will still be as immutable and unchanging as eternity itself.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
(Revelation 1:8 NKJV)
Discuss with your group the implications of Jesus existing outside time and space.
Dig into John Chapter 17. In Jesus’ prayer to the Father, He speaks of existing before the foundation of the world.Why is this significant in light of His upcoming arrest and crucifixion?
Decide to be intentional about explaining the truth of Christ’s eternal existence to your loved ones as you celebrate Christ’s birth during this holiday season.
