The incarnation—God becoming man—certainly happened; it is grounded in historical fact. One of those facts is that, in accordance with God’s prophetic promise, he would send “a messenger” who would “prepare the way” for Messiah (Malachi 3:1). The faithful remnant in Israel was expecting this messenger. In this passage, that messenger—the one who would become known as John the Baptiser—arrives. And with his arrival also arrives a certain expectation of God doing a wonderful work of redemption. All of this is at the heart of the passage before us. We will study this under the following headings:

1. Promised Fruit (vv. 57–58)

2. Professed Faith (vv. 59–64)

3. Perplexed Fear (vv. 65–66)

4. Prophetic Fulfilment (vv. 67–80)