Theme:  Everyone needs someone who will speak the truth, be the “voice of God.”

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  John repeatedly emphasizes that Jesus was “sent from God.” We will hear that the word, “apostles,” means to be “sent” and Christians are to be “sent from God into the world.” Here in this moment, we hear that John the Baptist was sent from God. To be “sent from God” is a sign of authenticity and spiritual authority.

-He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  John the Baptist was a witness to testify to the light of God which lives in Christ. Christ is the light of the world who brings life.

Note the word, “believe.” As we move into the Gospel of John, we will hear that what John wants is to believe in Jesus Christ more than anything else.

-He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.  John the Baptist was not the light but pointed to the light. We are the same: we point to the greatest light in the whole world, Jesus Christ. Jesus is that great and glorious beacon that guides us on our way. Jesus is the North Star who guides us in the night. Jesus is our lamp who guides our feet so we don’t stumble and fall as we walk on the paths of life. John the Baptist and everyone else who has any sense does not point to one’s self as an example but to Jesus Christ. “Keep your eyes on Christ” and you will do well.

He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” John the Baptist was clear: he was not the coming Messiah, the Anointed One, the Chosen One of God.

-And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” ” John 1:21 says, “Are you Elijah?” Jesus answered, “I am not.” Whereas in Matthew 11:14 it says, “If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.”  The Gospel of John says that John the Baptist was not Elijah; Matthew says that he was. It seems that Matthew was writing to a Jewish audience who were definitely expecting Elijah to return before the arrival of the Messiah. Matthew interprets John the Baptist to be none other than the returning Elijah. The Gospel of John says “No, John the Baptist wasn’t Elijah.” For the Gospel of John, John the Baptist is the Voice crying in the wilderness to prepare for the coming Messiah.

Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

-Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” “Who are you?” This is the dominant question for all people from all generations. What is the true identity of John the Baptist? We continue to ask, “John, the Baptist, who are you? Are you the Messiah? Are you the persona of Elijah returned, or another prophet who is to come?”

We ask similar questions about Jesus. “Jesus, are you really a weighty religious prophet like Moses or Mohammed or Buddha and thereby a founder of a world-wide religion? Jesus, are you truly a prophet and no more? Did your followers exaggerate your identity and convert you into the Son of God when you only wanted to be a religious prophet?”

These are all fundamental questions that were being asked centuries ago and that people still ask today. 

The Jews at that time were expecting the Messiah to come, Elijah to return, and another prophet (unnamed) to return. The belief that Elijah would come immediately before the Messiah is derived from Malachi 4:5. “I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.”

Also in Deuteronomy 18:15, the Bible states that God “will raise up a prophet like Moses… I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak all that I have commanded him.”

- He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ” as the prophet Isaiah said.

John said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, get ready for the coming of the Lord.”

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.” John the Baptist invited the people to prepare for the coming of Christ into the world and into their hearts. Similarly, John the Baptist asks us to prepare for the coming of Christ into our lives and into our hearts as well.

We all need the Voice of God speaking to our lives.  We need a person or people who would call out to us to get ready for Christ to enter into us. We all need a voice to confront us with our sinfulness and crooked lives.

We always prepare for great events in our lives whether that event is Christmas, the birth of a baby, the homecoming of a child now an adult, taking a trip, getting ready for a big game or a important concert, making preparations for the visit of a presidential candidate. We always prepare intently for great events that will soon be upon us. We all have experienced and know the reality of preparation for an important, upcoming event.

Christ comes to us in so many different ways, and one’s heart is always to be prepared for the surprise coming of Christ into our lives, often when we least expect it. Voices of pastors, spouses, children, friends, work associates, professors, neighbors are often the voice of God, calling to us and getting our attention to get ready for the coming of God’s glorious presence into our lives.

“Make his paths straight.” All four authors quote Isaiah 40:3 about the messenger who will prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight. The image of straightening a path was clear to the people of the first century. When a king was about to come into a land, the road-like-paths would be cleaned up and straightened in preparation for his royal majesty’s entrance. So it was at the coming of the King of the universe. The prophet would prepare for the coming of the Christ onto the earth and into our lives. The road crews of the ancient paths/roads would straighten them out and tidy them up in preparation for the coming royal king, and we are to straighten the moral/spiritual/habitual paths of our lives in preparation for our coming King. 

Rev. Edward Markquart