The
synoptic gospels record some interesting facts about the eccentric John the
Baptist (Matt.3:1-6; Mark 1:2-6; Luke 3:3-6). These facts can be broken down
into four parts: 1) Isaiah’s prophecy; 2) John’s basic message; 3) John’s
baptism in the Jordan; 4) John’s food and clothing. John figured prominently in
the ministry of Jesus and our understanding of the mind of Christ.
Isaiah’s prophecy
(40:3-5) is included differently in each of the gospel accounts. Mark has verse
3, Matthew has verse 3, and Luke has verses 3-5a. However, Mark also adds a
line from Malachi 3:1 though Mark also adds a phrase to Malachi’s text, i.e.
“before your face.” Why does Mark add
this phrase? Perhaps it is his commentary on Isaiah 40:5 which speaks of the
glory of the Lord being revealed and all flesh seeing it. And Malachi also
mentions “the Lord who you seek will suddenly come to his temple” which reminds
me of Psa.27:4 where God who is being sought in his temple is associated with
seeking His face. So what is the purpose of quoting Isaiah and Malachi?
It was first
to confirm that the promised “messenger” was in fact among first century
Israel. Just as the angels announced the birth of Christ, so John, a human
angel, announces the ministry of Christ. When important people speak before
large crowds it is honor to be chosen to introduce the speaker. Later God
Himself will make His own introduction from heaven. Of course, the bridegroom
must be announced. It is fitting. For John this was part of the preparation,
making ready or forming the way for Jesus. Every building needs to be formed
before walls, roofs, and floors can be added. The 2/4’s come out, the footers
are dug, and the trusses are put into place. This was John’s work. He was
grading the road that Jesus would pave. I can’t help but wonder if Jesus and
John had discussed this ahead of time. Did they spread out the house plans or
the road construction plans, and plot out the job together? Did they discuss
timing, and locations, and wordings? Was their ministries coordinated?
John was
the VOICE. He was the spokesman for Jesus. He was his press secretary. He had
authority to speak for Jesus. Twice more “voice” is mentioned, i.e. Rachel, the
voice of Ramah, weeping for her children, and God Himself who spoke from
heaven. These are the three voices in the life of Jesus: a voice of
announcement, a voice of travail over the effects of sin, and the Voice of
affirmation to the identity and purpose of Jesus. John’s voice was in the
wilderness just as Isaiah said it would be. Perhaps God staged the announcement
there so as to separate it from the noisy voices of the crowds in Jerusalem. In
the desert John’s voice would stand out. There would be no competition from
would-be messiahs. It is also fitting that John was in the very desert where
the scapegoat was released on the Day of Atonement, the goat that takes away
the sins of the people. The first two voices “cried” out. There is urgency. The
third Voice answered.
John’s
job was to make straight paths for the Lord. The word is euthus, a metaphor for right, upright, and true. This is the only
path Jesus can follow. He is not crooked. Luke tells us the process involves
filling in ravines and bringing mountains and hills low. John was a road-grader,
and, if you have ever lived on a dirt road, you understand. Two words describe
the road John must repair, crooked from skolia,
from which we get scoliosis, and trachus which
means rough, with a goal of making the road smooth. The word smooth is a word
from which we get lego-"to lay, arrange, to-gather” or to otherwise put
something in order. John and Jesus entered a world that was “out of order” and
had to be straightened out. Jesus saw the world as messy, cluttered,
disordered, chaotic, much like the world before creation, i.e. formless and
void with darkness over the deep. Then, He spoke words of LIGHT into darkness,
and He will do the same in His day.
Luke
continues the Isaiah quote to include “And all flesh shall see the salvation of
God.” Jesus came in the flesh (John 1:14) to save all flesh, an important
theological point according to 1 John 4. In Acts 2:17, another prophecy
announces the pouring out of the Spirit on “all flesh.” Luke’s quotation from Isaiah is the first
mention of the mystery (See Eph.3) that salvation is for all, Jew and Gentile
alike. It is going to take some significant actions by Jesus and the Father to
get the early church to understand and apply this in practice. Jesus’ mind was
firmly set on offering salvation to all men. The two people He commended for
having great faith were both Gentiles. Though He trained the apostles on
reaching the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” He personally ministered to
everyone in His path, including the Samaritans (John 4).
This salvation
is deliverance. Deliverance means to take a person from a state of danger and
destruction and bring them into a state of prosperity and happiness, or from
slavery to freedom. Jesus came to be a blessing (Gen.12:3). He would prove to
be so to men, body, soul and spirit.
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