John 1:19-23 says....

Today's verses John chapter 1 and verses 19 through 23, which read,

v.19 - This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

I can't help but think in my running wild mind of a scene with the priests and Levites coming up to the shore of Jordan River where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing and singing "Who are you?  hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo."  John the Baptist is of the tribe of Levi.  He is the son of the priest Zechariah.  He is about 30 years old.  He is the cousin of Jesus.  He who has been trained in the law is causing a stir on the banks of the Jordan and the authorities send a delegation to see what "one of their own" is proclaiming.  They are very interested in what he is saying about a coming Messiah.

v.20 - And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

Some thought that John the Baptist could be the Messiah.  The coming One from God who was anointed and appointed by Him to deliver them.  This One from God had many prophecies about Him in the Old Testament so they had read of His coming many times.  Could John the Baptist be Him?  John the Baptist is very emphatic to say "absolutely not."  He confessed and confessed again.  He spoke in oath type language that he was not the Christ.

v.21 - They asked him, "What then?  Are you Elijah?"  And he said, "I am not."  "Are you the Prophet?"  And he answered, "No."

The priests and Levites are peppering him with questions.  If you are not the Christ then are you Elijah, the great prophet to come again before the Messiah comes?  John the Baptist was not Elijah but he was like the Elijah figure given us in Micah 4:5 and also Luke 1:17.

"Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes."

"And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people."

"Are you the Prophet?" was the next question.  If not Elijah then what about the Prophet predicted in Deuteronomy 18:15 who would be like Moses.  

"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers.  You must listen to him."

John the Baptist says an emphatic "no" again.  We would find out later from the lips of Jesus, who is the all knowing God, that John the Baptist is the forerunner of the Messiah as prophesied in Scripture but under John the Baptist's testimony at this time, he doesn't take credit for these titles and positions.

v.22 - They they said to him, "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you say about yourself?"

Talk about an open door of opportunity.  John the Baptist, you have the floor with the great assembly to share your message of who you are and who you follow.  These men had to take something back to the others and what would they take back with them?  These next words from the mouth of John the Baptist were very important.  I imagine these are words that he has thought about over and over again.  

What about you?  What do you say when the softball is lobbed in and someone inquires about your faith?  Do you have the words on the tip of your tongue of what you will say?  Have you thought about what you will say the next time God opens up a door of opportunity when someone asks you, "Who are you?"  "What do you say about yourself?"  Will you tell them about Jesus because you have thought about what you would say about Jesus?  Have you crafted that statement ahead of time?

v.23 - He said, "I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said,"

John the Baptist's answer includes Scripture.  He goes to Isaiah chapter 40 verses 3 through 5, which read,

"A voice of one crying out:  Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.  Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.  And the glory of the LORD will appear, and all humanity together will see it, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

John the Baptist is a voice used to tell the world of Another.  It is a voice that is crying this out.  There is passion in his voice.  There is an urgency in his voice.  This message about Another is going out to those in the wilderness, the dryness and barrenness of life.  The sin of life had an answer that was coming and they needed to be prepared to receive Him.  John the Baptist was just a voice proclaiming that message to the people of Israel.

Jesus has come and is coming again.  If you are a Christian, then you are a voice crying out in the wilderness.  There is a passion and urgency to tell others of Jesus' return that all of humanity will see.  A preparation is needed for this coming King.  My voice is used to ask you, "Are you prepared for His coming?"   John the Baptist doesn't take any credit for being the Christ or Elijah or The Prophet like Moses.  He humbles himself to say he is just a voice that is proclaiming Scripture to the world about a coming King.  Do we do the same?  Let us pray.

"Heavenly Father, how humble we see John the Baptist is.  The message he shares is more important than his very name.  He isn't concerned about himself but concerned about his hearers knowing who You are.  May we be re-focused today to take our eyes off of ourselves so that we can speak much of You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam