John 1:22-23 22Therefore they said to him, “Who are you? In order that we might give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 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.”
The representatives from Jerusalem kept pressing John the Baptist for an answer about his identity and mission. They had to give an answer to those who sent them. It was no good to come back empty handed. They repeat their opening question but now with no more assumptions. If John was not the Messiah, Elijah, or the predicted Prophet, then who was he and what was he doing? Obviously, his message was having some kind of effect on people because so many were going out to hear him. The power structure in Jerusalem wanted an answer. Their motives in seeking out John and interrogating him like this are not clear, but John was causing enough uncertainty that they wanted to figure out the situation. John does not record the rugged look and unusual diet of John the Baptist like the Synoptic Gospels. His focus was more on John as a key witness to the identity of the Word from God.
John quotes Isaiah 40:3 (Septuagint version) in response. He was the voice that called people to prepare for the coming Lord. His ministry was out in the wilderness or desert areas east of Jerusalem and away from centers of power, out in places where it was desolate and people had to trek to find him. His message was simple but demanding. The metaphor of make straight has an ethical sense to it. The Synoptic Gospels make this clearer by giving more of John’s response of calling people to repent (Luke 3:7-9). The people had a part to play in the coming of the Messiah by repenting and preparing their hearts. Those who were spiritually right with God would recognize Jesus as the Word. As the Gospel continues, unfortunately, many of the religious leaders did not prepare themselves and remained with their closed minds and hardened hearts.
Repentance opens us to receive the grace and truth revealed by Jesus. It is difficult–if not impossible–to see Jesus and receive his salvation unless we humble ourselves before him. The good news is already beginning to be revealed in John’s writing. Important aspects of who Jesus is and what he offers are already given in these opening verses. The reader is now prepared to learn more about this Word sent from God who is God in the flesh.
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