In this lecture, Don Carson explores the biblical theme of the incarnation, explaining the Old Testament’s anticipation of God’s visitation which culminates in the New Testament. Carson shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, embodying both judgment and mercy. And he highlights the significance of John’s Gospel and emphasizes Jesus as God’s self-expression and agent in creation, which Carson connects to the new covenant.
He teaches the following:
God’s declared promises of forgiveness, transformation, and an eternal Davidic King
The linguistic significance of Jesus’s name and its connection to the theme of salvation
The historical interpretation of John 1:1–18 and its relation to the creation account
John the Baptist’s role as a witness to the true Light
How the Old Testament law prepared the way for Jesus’s arrival
Why Jesus’s sacrifice is the most profound display of God’s glory
The Gospel Coalition