Matthew 11:13 Jesus said:
KJV: For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. NCV: All the prophets and the Law of Moses told about what would happen until the time John came.
John the Baptist was the last of a long line of prophets who predicted the coming of the Messiah. John ended the age of Old Testament prophecy. John was “the bridge” that spanned from the predictions of the Messiah to the coming of the Messiah; “the bridge” that spanned the Old Testament to the New Testament. John the Baptist was the one whom God raised up to be the end of Old Testament time and the beginning of New Testament, the long line of new ministers to introduce the Messiah [2 Cor.3:6 …made us able ministers of the new testament]. Since the New Testament time the believers and ministers have spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, and also the Messiah is coming again.
Dictionary: Span [spanned] means distance of time from the beginning of Genesis 3:15, the first prophecy of Christ and through all the prophets of Old Testament predicted the coming Messiah until John’s time.
Dorothy: Jesus was telling the people of Israel during His time, “I am here now. I am the Messiah. John was the last prophet to tell you about My coming.” No wonder John was more than a prophet. He was the “bridge” for the Messiah. John was the last prophet to predict and introduce the Messiah. It was an honor for John to have Jesus spoke about him to the people. Truly John the Baptist was a “soldier for Christ.”
Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus Going on before;
Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, See His banners go!
Chorus:
Onward Christian solders! Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus Going on before.
[Sabine Baring-Gould & Arthur S. Sullivan]
