Voices in the Wilderness: We are humble witnesses preparing the way!

Introduction

This morning, we continue our journey through John’s gospel. Last week, our text was John 1:14-18. In that message, we understood that Christ was God’s sacred unveiling of Himself as God to the world. He became flesh and dwelt among us. The day God unveiled himself was the single most incredible day in history. He fulfilled His purpose of coming to us in the flesh. God himself dwelt among us. He became something we could understand and know in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ demonstrated God's grace by offering himself as payment for our sins. Additionally, Christ demonstrated truth as He fulfilled God’s promise of man’s redemption. God accomplished all of this through the Lord Jesus Christ, paving the way for anyone who believes to have eternal life.

As we come to today’s passage, the Holy Spirit turns our attention back to John the Baptist. As you may noted, there are two main characters in John 1. The main character is Christ. There is also John the Baptist. We know him today as the “forerunner” of Christ. In fact, in today’s text, the religious leaders of that day sent a small group representing them to inquire about John’s identity. Let’s read the text and make a few observations about John.

John 1:19–27 KJV 1900

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

As you can see, the religious authorities of that day were perplexed by John and his popularity. Studying the other gospel accounts teaches us a little more about this controversial figure. He was a man who wore clothes made of “camel’s hair” kept in place by a leather belt around his waist. Additionally, we know that he had a strange diet consisting of grasshoppers (locusts) and wild honey. The other gospels mention that his message centered around the “kingdom of heaven” being at hand. Here in John’s account, we have nothing about these things. Instead, a man points to Christ and proclaims Him as the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” By the time this contingent of religious leaders confronted John, multitudes of people had come out to hear, see, and be baptized by him. As you might imagine, the news of this wild man in the wilderness preaching and baptizing arrested the attention of the religious crowd, particularly the Pharisees—verse 24 states explicitly that the Pharisees sent these men to question John.

Who are the Pharisees?

“Pharisee” is an Aramaic word that means “to separate.” They were so named due to the different manner of life they from the general public. In fact, during the time of Christ, there were two such groups of people. One group was identified as Pharisees, while the other was known as the Sadducees. The Pharisees were the outgrowth of a growing philosophy often known as Hellenizers. These were men who considered themselves highly pious and were very zealous. They acted under the guidance of Hebrew scribes. The fundamental principle that drove these men was complete separation from non-Jewish elements, unlike the Sadducees, who sought to merge Greek and Jewish beliefs and principles. The Pharisees believed and taught strict adherence to the Law and ultimately rejected any compromise with other religions. In a day when Israel was subject to Roman authority, the Pharisees became famous and influential simply because people saw them as the means to preserve their culture. However, they worshiped it in their zeal for the Law, and their attitude became external, formal, and mechanical. On top of that, they held great power over those who followed them, forcing them to live under highly demanding rules and regulations. As Christ later noted, these men were religious on the outside, but inwardly, they had no heart for God. They wanted others to praise them and follow their instructions.

Into this climate comes both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ. You can imagine the stir both of them caused. John the Baptist started the ball rolling as Christ’s forerunner. As he was baptizing and preaching, the Pharisees sensed they were losing control over the people following them. Consequently, they send this group to find out who this guy thinks he is, hence the question, “Who are you?”

Note that John’s answer reflects his proper understanding of himself. He immediately clarified that he was not the promised Messiah. To clarify, he is not even the great prophet Elijah. This was important to the Jews, for they were looking for the promised Messiah to come and expecting Elijah to reappear. John clearly states that he is neither one of them. He even states that he is not even “that prophet.” In other words, he is nothing other than, as he notes, a “voice crying in the wilderness.”

God wants us to know and understand that every believer is a voice crying in the wilderness this morning. We have a voice and nothing more. Just as John the Baptist was a voice in the wilderness, we, too, are voices. With that in mind, let’s explore the parallels between John the Baptist and us as believers in today’s world.

The first parallel is this.

Our Simple Duty as a Voices

John 1:22–23 KJV 1900

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

The word “voice” is the keyword here. What did John mean when he said, “I am the voice...” Well, it is pretty simple. There is no hidden meaning here. In Greek, the word “voice” is the sound made when a person opens their mouth and speaks. More technically, it is the sound made by the vibration of the vocal cords. That is it. That is all I have for you.

John stated that he was nothing more than a voice.

Now, as we consider this thought, here is what God impressed upon my mind and heart. We, as believers, are nothing more than instruments. We have a straightforward duty, just as John had one simple duty. We are to sound forth the message of Christ. By the way, here is an exciting consideration. In this chapter's very first verse, we established that Christ is the Word.

John 1:1 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We know from last week’s message that the “Word became flesh” speaks to Christ taking on flesh to live among us. He is God. He is Logos, the Word. We are not the Word. We are simply voices. Voices are how thoughts are brought to life through speaking words. That is the idea here. Christ is the Word, and we are how the Word becomes real to others. That was John’s point. He was nothing more than a voice. Christ was the Word.

Now, look again at John’s answer.

John 1:23 KJV 1900

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

He stated he was “the voice of one crying...” Again, if you study the word crying, you find that it means to utter a loud cry. In other words, John was not one to mumble or whisper. No, he LOUDLY proclaimed the Word so that all could hear. I believe this is another crucial point. God expects us to loudly and proudly proclaim the Word, His Son, as many will listen. We do not remain silent. We are not to be secret agents. No, instead, we are to visibly and vocally share the good news of Christ to as many will receive it.

Again, look at verse 23 and note that he was “the voice of one CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.” The wilderness is an uninhabited and uncultivated region. It is barren. There is very little life. It is dry and forsaken. Here, the Holy Spirit uses this word to describe the current spiritual condition of mankind. All around us are people who live their lives physically but spiritually in the wilderness. They are living, yes, but not thriving. Their lives are marred by spiritual death. They are barren, lifeless, dry, forsaken by God, and have no hope. Many are longing for a taste of spiritual water. Constantly, they move from one thing to the next, thinking they will find spiritual satisfaction. Each new venture, relationship, and material possession offers a mirage of hope, only to find when they have it disappears. They need true spiritual satisfaction only through Christ, the Living Water! He is the Word. He is the message. He is their hope. However, as believers, it falls on us to be the VOICE by which the Word is sounded forth into their lives.

Romans 10:15–17 KJV 1900

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Christ specifically commissioned us to be the voices for Him. His exact words to us were...

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Our simple duty as His voice is to proclaim Him as the Living Word, Living Water, and Spiritual Life to all who are living in the wilderness of sin’s bondage.

I am reminded of what Christ told the woman at the well in Samaria.

John 4:10 KJV 1900

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Her reply was similar to Nicodemus. She thought He was talking about some miracle water she needed to drink physically. Yet, Christ was without any pot to draw water. So she says...

John 4:11 KJV 1900

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Christ answered.

John 4:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

You see, millions of people living all around us need Living Water. They are in a vast wilderness of spiritual dryness, desperate for a drink to satisfy them. The things of this world will never satisfy. They might keep drinking what it offers, but repeatedly, they are left thirsting again. Only when they meet the Word, Logos, who is Christ, do they find a “well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Here is the point. We are the “voices” of today that God chooses to use. Just as John was that day's voice, we are to be His voice today. And, just like John’s day, we are to cry out in the wilderness of sin and spiritual death. Our message is not our own. No, our message is Christ, the Living Word and Water.

This brings me to the next thought from our text.

Our Simple Goal as Voices

John 1:23 KJV 1900

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Note now John’s goal. He was a voice crying the wilderness with one straightforward message. His message was “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Note also how it was the same message as Isaiah. This a reference to Isaiah 40:3

Isaiah 40:3 KJV 1900

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

As we know, John was chosen to be Christ’s forerunner. The essence of that title was simple. God sent him to prepare the hearts and minds of the people for Christ’s arrival. Thus, his message was simple as well. Prepare yourselves for the Lord.

‌I pointed out this morning that it is the same message today. The message of the Old and New Testaments has always been the same. We, as people, are born into this world as sinners already in opposition to God. Thus, we require a Savior to bridge the gap and bring us back into God’s good grace. For that to happen, it required God’s good grace, for only God could redeem us. Consequently, Christ, God’s Son, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us so that we might behold God’s glory. His greatest glory was demonstrated upon the cross and His subsequent resurrection. Through these actions, God gave Himself as a ransom for our sins. Now, anyone who places their faith in Christ has their sins forgiven and taken away. Thus, John accurately proclaimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God who took away the world's sins. That was his message. He prepared the way. He was the voice crying in the wilderness, and as he did, he pointed others to the One who is Life, Light, and Truth.

Our goal is the same. We are to proclaim the same message with our voice and life. Everything we say and do must focus on leading and guiding others to Christ. We must humbly submit to complete obedience to Christ so that He might effectively use us as the way into people’s hearts. I know that I keep going back to Romans 10, but it is the quintessential passage concerning our role as witnesses. It is in Romans 10 that we learn...

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Immediately following these verses comes...

Romans 10:14–15 KJV 1900

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

What is a preacher? A preacher is a voice. Every believer is called to be a preacher. A preacher voices aloud the wonderful message of salvation. The very message of verse 13 is that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It is the same message of John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” The only way people will believe such a message is when it is VOICED so they can hear it. If there is no VOICE, there is no message to listen to. Thus, it behooves us to PREACH the gospel of peace. If we do anything less, we are not doing what God expects. I contend from Scripture that God leaves us as believers here on earth for one purpose. Our purpose is to be the VOICE of the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the vast wilderness of sin and wickedness. Our goal is to PREPARE the Lord's way so that He might enter the hearts of those who would hear and open themselves to Him. Any failure to do just that is a tremendous spiritual tragedy!

Now note something peculiar in this account.

Our Baptism as a Voice

John 1:25–26 KJV 1900

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

After inquiring about his identity, they turn to his activity. As far as I can discern, John’s baptism is the first mention of baptism in Scripture. There is no mention of baptism or baptism in the Old Testament. At least, there is none that I could find. If that is correct, and I am pretty sure it is, then John's activity of immersing people in the water was new. Consider now the fact that John was an oddball by the way he dressed and ate, coupled with the fact he dunked people under the waters of Jordan; he truly stood out to these religious fanatics. They were pretty interested in this new thing of baptism. Thus, they ask, “Why do you baptize?” In other words, “Why are you dunking people under the water?” If John the Baptist is not the Messiah, Elijah, or even a prophet, why are you doing this?

John replies, “I baptize with water.” Okay, now that is a strange response. I would imagine that it was pretty obvious that he was using the river waters of Jordan to dunk people in. So why state the obvious? I believe the answer is in the rest of his statement. Look again.

John 1:26 KJV 1900

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Baptism, as we know, symbolizes the ultimate act of Christ. Remember, Christ’s sole purpose in coming was to redeem men from sin. Redemption requires the shedding of blood. Thus, Christ willingly went to the cross, shed His blood, and died for all our sins. However, He is not dead. He is risen. He resurrected Himself from the dead just as He promised. Whenever a person is adequately baptized by immersion, they show His death, burial, and resurrection as a testimony to others.

Romans 6:3–5 KJV 1900

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Now remember that God sent John the Baptist to be a witness of that True Light, which is Jesus Christ. His baptism was part of that witness. Long before Christ died and rose again, John was already telling everyone that Christ was indeed the Lamb of God. Christ never condemned John’s baptism. Christ did, however, embrace it. He came to John and was baptized of John himself. Why? Christ understood how that John’s baptism was a confirmation of what was to come. Today, we continue the same practice for the very same reason. Just as John was a voice in the wilderness and used baptism to affirm Christ’s redemption, baptism remains a voice testifying to the same thing. Each time a new believer is baptized, their baptism becomes a visible testimony of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism is the loudest action a person can take by crying out that Christ is my Redeemer. No true believer should ever shy away from baptism. It is a viable and necessary step to voicing their love and devotion to Christ.

Conclusion

Let me conclude this message by restating that you and I, as believers, are voices in the wilderness. We are God’s humble witness preparing the way into the hearts and minds of those who need Christ. He is the Word, and we are the voices by which the Word goes forth. We cannot remain silent. We must proclaim Him to as many as will listen. Our world is overwhelmed by sin and wickedness.