Luke tells us that John is the fulfilment the “voice”
found in Isaiah 40:3-5. It was there that Isaiah prophesied some seven-hundred
years before the events in the Gospels these words: “The voice of one crying
in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the
desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain
and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough
places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see
it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
The Apostle John in his Gospel tells us: “Now this is
the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to
ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed, and did not deny, but
confessed, "I am not the Christ." And they asked him, "What
then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the
Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Then they said to him,
"Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you
say about yourself?" He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: "Make straight the way of the LORD," ' as the prophet
Isaiah said" (John 1:19-23).
John the Baptist knew clearly that he was that “voice” that
Isaiah prophesied about. He knew what his mission was in preparing the way of
the LORD! In fulfillment of that prophecy, John is that voice, a clear distinct
voice, a loud voice, an articulate one! John cries, 'Prepare the way of the
LORD; Make His paths straight. John's business is to make way for the receiving
of the gospel in the hearts of the people. To bring them into such a frame and temper of
mind so that Christ might be welcome to them, and they would welcome to Christ.
Luke goes further on with the quotation than Matthew and
Mark had done and applies the following words likewise to John's ministry (v.
5,6), “Every valley shall be exalted or filled”. It seems that this
means the gospel of Christ will fill the low valleys of people’s hearts. In
other words, the humble will be filled and enriched with grace and be exalted.
“And every mountain and hill brought low”. Speaks
how the Gospel will humble the proud and bring them down. How the
self-confident that stand upon their own wisdom, and how the self-conceited
that lift up their own selves, will have contempt put upon them. If they
repent, they are brought to the dust, but if not, they will be taken to the
lowest hell.
“The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough
ways smooth”. Indicates that sinners shall be converted to God. Their
crooked ways and their crooked spirits will be made straight. Man can’t do this
himself as it says in Ecclesiastes 7:13: “Consider the work of God; For who
can make straight what He has made crooked?” Only God by his grace can make that straight
which sin hath made crooked.
“And the rough ways smooth”. Only
the Holy Spirit and the Gospel can deal with and remove the difficulties that
hinder and discourage us in finding the way to heaven. Yes the Scripture
teaches us that they that love God's law shall have great peace, and nothing
shall offend them (Psalm 119:165). The gospel has made the way to heaven plain
and easy to be found, smooth and easy to be walked in.
“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." God’s
great salvation through Christ shall be more fully discovered than ever, and
the discovery of it shall spread to all flesh! Not the Jews only, but also the Gentiles. Yes,
everyone shall see this salvation of God in the cross of Jesus Christ. It is
set before them and offered to them!
Anyone and everyone are invited to enjoy it and receive the benefit of
it.
God sometimes has to break up our cold proud hard stony
hearts with trials and problems and brings us low so that we might open our
hearts in repentance to receive His grace, hope, peace and comfort for our
weary souls!
God bless!
