I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness
John 1:22–23 (NIVUK):
22 Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord.” ’
Baptist John’s answer is based on Isaiah 40:3.
A voice of one calling:
‘In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD; (Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the LORD)
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God. (make straight the paths of our God)
The ‘voice’ emphasises not the speaker but the mission and message. What is the mission and message of the voice? The voice calls out to people to prepare the way for the LORD and make straight the paths of our God. That is, the voice asks them to be ready to receive Jesus the Saviour in their heart. This is illustrated in Isaiah 40:4.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
Every valley shall be raised up:
the poor and lowly are raised up [1]
Every mountain and hill made low:
the proud and self-righteous depressed [1], all self-confidence, pride in national privileges, hypocrisy and irreligion removed [2]
The rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain:
the crooked and dishonest induced to change their ways for those of simplicity and integrity [1], the rude, rough, and harsh rendered courteous and mild [1]
More about Baptist John’s mission can be read from Malachi 4:6 and Luke 1:17.
He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.’ (Malachi 4:6)
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ (Luke 1:17)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 shows how to be thoroughly equipped to serve God for every good work as a Baptist John or an Elijah! As illustrated in Isaiah 40:4, the mission to prepare people ready for the LORD may require teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, too. The Holy Bible is God-breathed and is useful for these.
References
[1] Spence, H. D. M., The Pulpit Commentary: Isaiah (Vol. II)
[2] Brown, David; Fausset, A.R.; Jamieson, Bobby. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
