Dear Ones:
In the book of Isaiah, we have revealed to us the coming of John the Baptist, the one who is to proceed Christ, preparing the way for Him, and this, in the strength and power of Elijah. In the four gospels, we have mention of John the Baptist as the one preceding and preparing the way for the glory of God to be revealed in the most extraordinary manner possible in this world. Why the preparation? And what did it consist of? Lastly, what effect will the knowledge of this preparation have upon us?
In Isaiah 40, we read: “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. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord SHALL BE REVEALED…AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER.” (v. 3-5) In Mark’s gospel we read that John was God’s messenger, sent “before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.” (v.2) This was his mission. His message: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” (v.3) Luke tells us that John the Baptist was sent “…to prepare His ways; to give KNOWLEDGE of salvation…” (v.76-77) John himself would declare that he was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah concerning this “…voice of one crying in the wilderness.” (Jn. 1:23) Why is he mentioned as such in the Old Testament, and confirmed in the New Testament, by all of the Gospel writers? It is because of his message. He had come to give a knowledge of the Lord’s ways, so that “…the King of Glory” would come into the hearts and lives of those who believed. What then was the essence of his message?
When Nicodemus came to the Lord by night, the Lord of necessity had to confront him with the TRUTH of who the Christ was…the One in front of him. When Jesus confronted the woman at the well, He of necessity had to bring her to see the TRUTH that He was the Messiah. On the day of the miraculous catch of fish, when Peter would fall at Jesus’ feet and say, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,” He was revealing to Peter His true identity. This would eventually lead to Peter’s declaration, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16) And lastly, He confronts Thomas in the upper room, after the resurrection, and says to him, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands…be not faithless, but believing.” (Jn. 20:27) The result is the declaration by Thomas: “My Lord and my God.” (v. 28) In every instance here there is the revelation of the TRUTH of Christ, which is so very necessary for faith to lay hold on the reality of His person.
When we think of “mountains, or hills” needing to be made low, we can see that the Lord must deal with “…every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” (2 Cor. 10:5) John the Baptist came to pull down strongholds in the minds and hearts of his hearers, casting down imaginations, speculations, and lies concerning Christ. He came to elevate the great truths of Christ, remove the distortions of the knowledge of Him, so that, according to the simple, and yet, powerful TRUTH, God could forgive the people of their sins, and they know new life. It is then that the King of Glory reveals Himself to the heart, when one grasps the truth of Who and What Christ is. God’s blessing is always according to the TRUTH of who He is, never according to, or in association with, a lie.
How does this affect us? John told the people to “Prepare the way of the Lord….” How? By searching for the truth, being willing to see and grasp it, and live according to it. Then the basis is laid for the blessing, the intervention of God in the heart. When the people aligned themselves with the truth of Christ, then the blessing of heaven began to flow, the glory began to be revealed. And so it is with us. It is as we grasp the truth of Christ, His work , His ways, and His Person, then He begins to reveal Himself to us in wonderful ways. He will do so only according to truth. Let us be through with foolish speculations and imaginations, in order to plant our feet afresh every day upon the bedrock truth of His Person and work. Then we too shall “…see the glory of the Lord,” for the Lord will command the blessing.
Love, Dad