Who is Jesus? part 19

How do you see a voice?

The esteemed priests and Levites from Jerusalem, the most distinguished among them, were eager to meet John the Baptist. They were on a quest for a remarkable figure, the Messiah, or perhaps the prophetic voice of Elijah, or the great Prophet foretold by Moses. With a warm smile, John confidently replied, “No, that’s not who I am,” inviting them to discover the unique purpose of his mission instead.

They were looking for a man, but John said, “I am the voice.” This gave the priests and Levites a problem, they were looking for a particular person, how were they to look for a voice?

¹⁹ And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²² So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to 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.”

John 1:19-23 ESVUK

The Voice. This inspiring story begins with Jesus Christ introduced as the Word of God. John joyfully presents himself as the Voice. The Voice in the Wilderness takes the powerful words from Isaiah and brings them to life beyond the quote, spreading hope and light.

John was an outsider.

A lot of John’s Gospel is filled with engaging conversations followed by insightful monologues that beautifully explain the essence of each dialogue. Each interaction serves a purpose, and many contain delightful nuances of humour. As we explore these conversations, we will see that Jesus communicates with a variety of people while John presents a humble perspective on himself. The first conversation features John the Baptist and some Jewish religious leaders. Although it seems at first that we may not find humour in this exchange, we can appreciate the earlier playful teasing about John the Baptist, which invites us deeper into the message: “It’s not about him.”

Outside the towns

John was an outsider. He was in the wrong place. You would expect a prophet to appear in Jerusalem just as the Wise Men expected the new King of the Jews to be there (Matthew 2:1-12). The Jews had washing facilities in Jerusalem and baptised Gentiles who wanted to follow the God of the Jews.

John was different. He baptised Jews! People who were already God’s people. He did it by the Jordan River.

Outside cultivation

John was an outsider. The countryside by the Jordan east of Jerusalem was, and still is, scrubland and semi-desert, also known as bush in Australia and wilderness in the Bible. This land is unsuitable for arable farming or grazing large herds or flocks. He was in the middle of nowhere.

But John in the wilderness is at the heart of the story.

Outside Jewish jurisdiction

John was an outsider. He baptised on the east of the Jordan River at Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas) in modern-day Jordan. The priests and Levites had no jurisdiction here.

In Deuteronomy 18:15, we find the comforting promise that “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” As Moses glimpsed the promised land from the heights of Mount Nebo, it’s poignant to think about the teachings in Deuteronomy he imparted from that very place. Nearby, Elijah’s Hill holds a significant memory, where Elijah ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire, part of the sacred site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan. It’s deeply human to wonder about the connection between these powerful figures as they were taken to heaven close to where John was baptising. The questions “Are you Elijah?” and “Are you the Prophet?” resonate, reflecting a genuine search for understanding. It’s clear that the priests and Levites struggled to grasp the connection between the prophet Moses foretold and the Messiah—yet we look back with clarity and insight into their journey. We have the hindsight they lacked.

Going through the Jordan was a sign of the covenant given by Moses. The Jews came to their promised land. John’s baptising of Jews at the same place is a sign of a new covenant.

But John’s reply is not about Moses or Elijah. He quotes Isaiah Chapter 40.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.
³ A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah 40:1-3

Isaiah foretold the momentous return of the Jewish people from their exile in Babylon.

Elijah was preparing the people for judgment. Isaiah was welcoming God’s people home.

God is still calling his people home. God is still pardoning iniquity. It does not matter how bad you have been God’s forgiveness is still waiting for those who turn to him. Can you hear God’s voice calling you?

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