19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then 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?” 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.”
What the Lord is Saying: Previously in verse 6, John is identified as sent from God. And now in verse 19 are more specifics about John and how there were those that questioned him and his identity. Those questioning him, as listed in this passage, were Jews, sent by priests and Levites. And they wondered if he was the Christ, Elijah, the Prophet.
Message: John the Baptist Identifies Himself
Time: Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Previously in verse 6, John is identified as sent from God. And now in verse 19 are more specifics about John and how there were those that questioned him and his identity. Those questioning him, as listed in this passage, were Jews, sent by priests and Levites. And they wondered if he was the Christ, Elijah, the Prophet.
In my attempt to date John the Baptist and his ministry, Matthew 3 records the baptism of Jesus which is about AD 29. Malachi is on record for about 422 or 425 BC. The last verses of Malachi state, "5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
The writer John saw the importance of specifying this information about John the Baptist. I always want to remember this when studying the Bible. I tend to write a lot of thoughts on subjects and ad lib, but this is the Bible, inspired by God, and I believe every writing has been directed by God to be included.
John, in responding to the questions from these questioning him states who he is not, probably to make sure that they know this as these were questions he would guess them wondering. His responses are specific. And as to who he is, he is a little general, but fulfilling a prophecy from Isaiah the prophet as recorded in Isaiah 40:3-5 --
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (ESV)”
In verse 3, The LORD is Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel. Does this means that John is making a connection with the Lord Yahweh and Jesus? Matthew 3:3 quotes this as well. This is significant and calls attention to the significance of the New Testament and the writes that seem to be connecting Jesus to Yahweh, Jehovah God. And yet there are those worldviews that will interpret this as still being only Jehovah, the God of Israel, and nothing to do with Jesus.
Summary: John the Baptist states who he is not (Christ, Elijah, Prophet) and who he is - a voice crying out to make straight the way of the Lord/Jehovah/Jesus.
Promise: From Tabletalk, "We should not claim more about ourselves than is actually true, and we should be ready to proclaim Christ to the people we know."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are eternal. Your ways are not our ways and yet we seek to understand You and who You are. I know Lord that good people throughout the ages define you differently. You are Savior. You have atoned for sin. Thank you for John and bringing him on the scene. Teach me to understand You further, each day. Illuminate my understanding of You. If I have misunderstood anything about You, give me understanding.
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