Forerunner

A forerunner in biblical usage is one who goes before to prepare the way for someone greater. John the Baptist is the most prominent forerunner in the New Testament, explicitly fulfilling Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 in his role of preparing Israel for the ministry of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:2–3; Matthew 11:10). His mission was to call Israel to repentance, to announce the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God, and to direct his disciples to the one who came after him — whom he declared greater than himself.

Hebrews 6:20 applies the term directly to Christ himself: Jesus has entered the inner sanctuary of heaven "as a forerunner on our behalf," having gone ahead into the holiest place so that believers may follow. The imagery draws on the high-priestly entry into the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement, but transforms it: Christ's entry is permanent and his opening of the way is for all who trust in him. The forerunner concept thus works on two levels in Scripture — John preparing the way for Christ, and Christ preparing the way for his people.