Scripture Reading

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 said, 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? And he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.

And they asked him, saying, Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? And John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there stands one among you whom you do not know. It is he who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Prayer

O gracious God in heaven, we do praise you and thank you for your word. It is our only infallible rule for faith and life to lead us, guide us, to instruct us in how we are to live for your praise and your glory in response to all that you have done for us, and especially the salvation that you have secured for us through your own son, Jesus Christ. And so as we come to this particular passage this morning, we pray, Father, that your spirit would be poured out upon us to lead us and guide us, to give us understanding and insight, and that truly as your word goes forth in the power of the spirit, that it would truly find within each and every one of our hearts that rich, fertile soil, which will bring about great and abundant fruit for your glory. We ask now for your blessing upon your word, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

The Importance of Testimony in John’s Gospel

The Apostle John emphasizes the importance of testimony in his Gospel account. And we have seen this throughout his prologue, where he has testified of who Jesus was and the good news that Jesus came to reclaim and accomplish.

And beginning by recalling the creation account in Genesis 1, John introduced us to the Word, the Word who was with God in the beginning, who was God, and through whom all things were created. And then he testified of the light that came into the world, bringing life and light to mankind.

And of course, these are the witnesses, as we discussed before, that are revealed in creation and in the image of God that bears witness to all of mankind through their conscience, through the conscience of man.

Well, John also introduced the witness of himself and those who were witness to this word becoming flesh. that they beheld His glory, and it was the glory as of the only begotten of the Father. And of course, there was the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who was that Word, who most fully revealed the glory of God, and especially His attributes of grace and truth.

And so all these witnesses, and John would later go on to write in chapter 20 verse 31, all these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

And so there’s all these witnesses, all of John’s gospel, indeed, all of the other gospel accounts, all of the scripture, for that matter, both Old and New Testaments, are written for this very same purpose. It all points to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and our need to believe in Him for salvation and the glorious hope of everlasting life that we have when we believe in His name.

The Witness of John the Baptist

And so this, again, is why John has been emphasizing these kinds of testimonies. But there’s one other testimony or one other witness that John has mentioned, and of which he now, in the passage before us this morning, gives fuller treatment. And that is the witness of John the Baptist. of whom we know Jesus testified in Matthew 11.

Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of woman, there has not been one greater than John.

The Apostle John has already introduced the baptized in verse 6 and 8, and then again in verse 15. The baptizer has been sent from God to be a witness to the coming light, to prepare the way for the one who is the Word become flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so this morning, we begin then to further examine this witness in more detail, as the baptizer testifies of his role in ushering in the Kingdom of God and preparing the way for the just and righteous King, Jesus Christ.

Now the apostle, John, makes clear that the baptizer, John, openly testified of these things to everyone, even to the Jewish religious leaders who came all the way from Jerusalem to investigate the rumors that they had heard regarding about this commotion of being stirred in the wilderness by this strange preacher.

The Investigation by the Priests and Levites

And these investigators were both priests and Levites, that is, they were the ones who were entrusted with the ministry of the temple, and of course, along with that, they were the ones who were entrusted with teaching God’s word. They were the spiritual guides of the people.

And just as they would be called upon to examine if, for example, if someone had met the requirements of being ritually clean, for example, if someone had leprosy or some other kind of defilement, they would need to show themselves to the priest to be examined by the priest and say, okay, you’re clean, offer up this sacrifice and you’re good to go. Well, here they were also called upon to examine the teaching and preaching of those who claim to be prophets or who claim to speak on behalf of the Lord.

And so this is what they’re doing here, as they go out to the wilderness and inquire of John. Who are you?

Now, their question, at least initially, certainly would be quite sincere. It becomes clear, based on John’s response, and then, of course, their follow-up questions, that they had already certain preconceived options in mind about who John might be.

They were thinking that John must either be the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. Now of these, of course, the Messiah was, we know, the most significant. The Messiah, or Christ, was the servant of the Lord, that the Lord promised that he would raise up to save and deliver his people.

And the common expectation was that this anointed one would be the greater son of David, who would come to reestablish David’s throne in Jerusalem. And then, of course, then ushering in a glorious time for the nation. that hadn’t been enjoyed since that time of David. And of course, for the last four to five hundred years by this point, there had been no king, no son of David sitting on the throne at all in Jerusalem. And so there was this hope, this anticipation, that the dynasty of David would be reborn, as it were.

The Expectation of the Messiah

Well, the promise of the Messiah, again, we know was first made in God’s covenant, a promise to David. And this comes back in 2 Samuel 7. Remember, David had a desire to build a house for the Lord. And the Lord came back and said, no, I appreciate it. That’s not for you to do. I have a plan for that. But what I’m going to do is I’m going to establish your house forever. And so the Lord gives David this promise.

When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you who will come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son.

Now, when it became clear that David’s son Solomon, who fulfilled some of this, but he would not be this promised son because he later then turned away from the Lord and turned toward idolatry, nor would it be fulfilled in any of the other sons of David who would sit on the throne one generation after the next, during the whole history of Israel and then later Judah, up until the time of the destruction and the exile at the hands of the Babylonians in 587. And so, since it wasn’t fulfilled in that time span, well, the focus, hope, that was given, that was set in people’s hearts when God gave that promise to David, the hope shifted to a son that would be yet to come.

And this promise was then fueled by God’s ministry through the prophets such as Isaiah and Zechariah and Daniel.

And so, for example, in Daniel chapter 9, verse 25, it says,

Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks, and the streets shall be built again, and the wall even in troublesome times.

Indeed, the faithful ones awaiting the promised Messiah at the time of Jesus and John the Baptist, they understood that these 70 weeks of Daniel were now coming to an end in that current time. And so the hope of the Messiah’s arrival had kind of reached, at this time, a fevered pitch. And of course, as the oppression of the Roman Empire weighed heavily, The people anxiously waited, and they were waiting for this Messiah.

And they were looking, and they were searching, and they were equipped to look for any signs, any indication of the coming of this Messiah. And so suddenly, when John appears in the wilderness, after 400 years of prophetic silence, and here comes this guy proclaiming the kingdom of God, and the need for repentance and the forgiveness of sins, well, crowds quickly gathered around, and people came from afar. They went out into the wilderness to see what was going on. And again, it even stirred up the interest of these religious leaders, who went out themselves to investigate. Had the Messiah truly come?

John’s Denials

But John the Apostle makes very clear that John the Baptizer wasn’t the Messiah. In fact, it says that he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And so the repetition here is, again, for great emphasis. It’s stated twice positively, and then once negatively, so that there isn’t any confusion about the matter. John doubly confesses, I am not the Christ. And if someone even charged, hey, you’re not the Christ, He didn’t deny or refute the charge, because it was true. John wasn’t the Messiah.

Well, if John wasn’t the Messiah, then perhaps he was Elijah, the prophet, who has returned. Now, the expectation of the return of Elijah was also a hope fueled by the promises of God set forth by the prophets.

And there was this expectation, first of all, because of the way, remember, how Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, in a whirlwind. Being one of the few in Scripture, along with Enoch, who apparently didn’t die. He was just taken up. 2 Kings 2, we read this, then it happened as they continued on and talked that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And so the expectation was that since Elijah didn’t die, well he may at some point return in the future to carry on his ministry.

And this expectation, again, was later fueled by the prophets, especially the prophet Malachi, who was, in fact, the last of the prophets in the Old Testament. First, in Malachi chapter 3, verse 1, Malachi says,

Behold, I send my messenger. And he will prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight. Behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

And so Malachi is saying, look, a messenger is going to appear before the coming of the Lord as a way to prepare the way before him.

Well then Malachi becomes more explicit in Malachi chapter 4, verses 5 and 6. And again, note in mind that these are the very last words of the Old Testament, and indeed the very last words of God written before that 400 years of silence. So God’s last word to his people is this.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

And so Malachi here identifies the messenger that he earlier had mentioned, who would prepare the way for the Lord, Messiah, he identifies him here as the prophet Elijah.

And so again, when John the Baptist appears out in the wilderness, not only declaring a very similar message that Elijah declared, a call for repentance and a turning back to the Lord in truth, but even with a similar appearance and fit as Elijah, right? He’s wearing a leather belt around his waist and rough camel’s hair clothing and a diet of locusts and wild honey. People saw this and suddenly alarm bells were going off in their hearts and minds. Elijah has come, which then means that the Messiah is near.

But here again, John the Baptist is firm. When asked directly, are you Elijah, in verse 21, he responds, I am not. John was the son of Zacharias, who was a priest who served in the temple. He wasn’t Elijah, who had returned from heaven to carry on his prophetic ministry as before. Remember, Elijah worked many great miracles. We have no record of John performing any miracles. He simply preached and baptized, calling people to repentance.

Well, John wasn’t the Messiah. and he wasn’t Elijah, well then perhaps he was the prophet. And so this is the third option. Now the anticipation of the prophet predates Elijah and even predates the promise of the Messiah, David’s greater son. And so this prophet goes all the way back to Moses.

In Deuteronomy 18.15, as Moses is recounting the law for the people in preparation for their entering into the promised land after the 40 years of wandering. Remember, Moses wasn’t allowed to go in with them. And so Deuteronomy is basically his final words of instruction to them.

And he declares to them,

the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. him you shall hear.

And then just a little bit later, verses 18 and 19, he says,

I will raise up for them, this is then the Lord speaking, I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear my words, which he speaks in my name, I will require it of him.

And so the people Remember, they constantly complained about Moses. And they often rebelled against him and the words that the Lord had given him to speak. But the Lord promises here that another prophet will come. One from among them, from their own midst. One who would be greater than Moses. And the people will hear him. And those who don’t hear him, will truly be held accountable.

Now, over time, this coming prophet became closely associated with the idea of the coming of the Messiah. So this Messiah wouldn’t only be an anointed king, but he would also be one like a prophet who would speak the truth of God with all righteousness, and that by his words he would convict the hearts of many as prophet and as a lawgiver, just as Moses was.

But this wasn’t John. As again, he makes clear. They say, are you the prophet? No. So again, John isn’t the Messiah. He isn’t Elijah returned from heaven, nor is he the prophet like Moses. And so this investigative delegation is stumped. They’re out of options.

And so they press more firmly in verse 22, who are you? Who are you? Because we have to give an answer to those who sent us. If you’re not any of these people, what do you say about yourself? They know who he isn’t. So who does John claim to be?

John’s Positive Identity

Well, John finally makes a positive assertion in verse 23.

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

John isn’t the Messiah, Elijah, nor the prophet, nor is he the light or the word. But he is the voice, crying out in the wilderness, heralding the coming of the Lord. And here, John finds his identity by referencing Isaiah chapter 40, verses 3 and 4. And there we read this,

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.

Now, the context of this prophecy is the Lord, through the prophet, offering comfort to the people. In fact, that chapter, Isaiah 40, begins with those famous words, comforting my people. So He’s offering comfort to the people. He’s offering comfort after telling them of coming judgment and exile because of their sins of rebellion and idolatry. And yet the Lord is comforting them, promising comfort and restoration in the form of His returning to His people, to dwell in their midst, to restore and to bless them.

And as Isaiah will go on throughout the rest of his prophecy to fill out this description of this comfort that the Lord would bring, it becomes clear that the servant of the Lord, the Messiah, the promised son of David, would be the source of that comfort. But before he comes, before that Messiah comes, before that servant of the Lord comes, a lone voice, crying out from the wilderness, will call the people to prepare themselves for his coming. to go ahead of the procession, the royal procession, to announce the approach of the king.

And again, part of this call was not only to clear the highway of any and all obstacles, right, so that the king’s entourage would have no hindrance in proceeding along the highway, but it was also an opportunity for the people themselves to ready themselves and to prepare themselves for the King’s arrival, to be ready to behold His glory and to pay homage to Him as He comes and passes by them.

But in relation to the coming of the Lord’s promised Messiah, and again, this after a time of judgment upon the people because of their sin, Well, the preparation wasn’t physical road repairs and a presentation of themselves in their Sunday best. No, it was a spiritual preparation marked by a true and sincere heart change, a turning away from sin and a looking to the grace, the mercy, and the comfort of forgiveness that the Lord’s Messiah would bring.

And John confesses that He is this voice. And there He is, out in the wilderness. And what’s He doing? He’s calling the people to repentance, to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.

Connection to Elijah’s Prophecy

Now you may be thinking, now wait a minute, that sounds very familiar. It kind of sounds like the prophecy of Malachi that we noted before of the promised return of Elijah, who again would do this very thing.

Again, Malachi 3.1,

Behold, I send my messenger, and he will, what? Prepare the way before me.

And then,

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their father.

There’s the heart change.

And yet remember, John clearly denied being Elijah. So what’s going on? Well, John was right. He wasn’t Elijah. That is, he literally wasn’t Elijah, the Old Testament prophet who would have been taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. He wasn’t the same Elijah who would now return to take up this ministry. No, Elijah was Elijah and John is John. They’re not the same person.

But John is the one who’s come to fulfillment of these prophecies to be the voice crying out in the wilderness, to be the messenger who was to prepare the way for the Messiah. Again, he wasn’t literally Elijah.

But he was, as the angel Gabriel declares to his father, Zacharias, before John was born. Luke 1 verse 17, the angel says to Zacharias, he, referring to John, he will also go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John comes in the spirit and the power of Elijah, not as the man Elijah.

And Jesus himself confirms this when his disciples asked about the coming of Elijah. They said, well, isn’t Elijah supposed to come first? And Jesus says, for all the prophets in the law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

And so the religious leaders, and indeed many of the people, misunderstood as they expected Elijah to literally return.

But you see, John is one like Elijah. And he’s taken up the very mantle of Elijah, calling the people to repentance so that they might be prepared for the Lord’s Messiah. And this is precisely what John did. as He preached of the coming Kingdom of God and its anointed King. He sought to call people to repentance, that the paths to their hearts would be cleared and made straight, that there would be no hindrance of sin that would prohibit the arrival of the Messiah from bringing renewal and transformation, hope and comfort into their lives.

And to demonstrate this preparation of heart and mind, John baptized the people who confessed their sin, and it was an outward ceremonial cleansing, a sign of renewal and refreshment in their commitment to seeking after and serving the Lord, so that when the Messiah would come, He might find them ready and willing to serve Him.

The Question About Baptism

But it was precisely this activity of baptism that really ends up being most troubling, at least at this point, to these religious leaders even more than John’s preaching. Now later, John’s preaching will get very pointed toward these religious leaders. But for right now, it’s this idea that John is out there baptizing. Why is he doing this? And even though John has now made the connection for them and identified himself, they still don’t understand who he is.

And so in verse 25 they say, well why then do you baptize? If you’re not the Christ, if you’re not Elijah nor the prophet, why are you baptizing?

So in one sense, you see their concern was regarding authority. Because for them, baptism required authority to administer. And if John wasn’t serving in any of these authoritative offices, being the Messiah or the Prophet or Elijah, why is he baptizing?

So this certainly is a valid question, and in fact it’s a question that will come up later. Jesus will use this question bringing it back on the scribes and Pharisees who questioned him about his authority to do these things. And Jesus says, well, John’s baptism, by whose authority did John baptize?

Was it from God or men? And of course, they saw the bind that would put them in and they refused to give an answer. But it was the same authority. John received it from God, even as Jesus’ authority was from God as well.

And so here, this question of authority was evident even early on in John’s ministry. But really, their greatest issue probably wasn’t so much even with the authority. With John baptizing, that certainly would be an issue. But real, the core issue was those whom John was baptizing.

You see, baptism, even at this time, was a commonly accepted practice among the Jews. It was a ritual cleansing undertaken by proselytes, that is, converts to Judaism from heathen and Gentile nations. And so remember, male converts would be circumcised according to the law of Moses, but both male and female converts would also then be baptized as a way to symbolize the washing away of the defilement of the world.

And so John calling Gentiles to repentance and baptizing, well that in itself is not a problem. But see John was calling everyone, everyone who would hear, even his fellow Jews, to repent and be baptized. To receive this sign of cleansing and renewal. Now this would have been an insult to these religious leaders. And especially when John would call them to repent and be baptized.

You see, because they believed that they didn’t need repentance. Because they were children of Abraham according to the flesh, and that their salvation, including the forgiveness of their sins, is secure in their bloodline. At least that’s what they thought. Wrongly. So why would they need to repent and be baptized? If they’re Abraham’s children?

And remember at one point John says, well God is able to raise up children from these stones, showing that the bloodline doesn’t matter. Well this only further shows their lack of true spiritual discernment. and understanding of God’s revealed truth, even what had already been declared through the prophets, for example, Isaiah and Malachi. Because, again, in the context of those prophecies, the call to prepare one’s heart by turning and repenting of sin was very clearly made to God’s people Israel.

They were the ones who had rebelled against God. And so, yes, they very much were in need of cleansing and forgiveness of sin. You see, these religious leaders and many Jews of the day believed, well, okay, that was in the past. We paid our dues. We went into exile and our fathers suffered. So we paid our dues. Now we’ve been restored to the land. We don’t need repentance and cleansing. It was as though they believed the Messiah would return and He would be so impressed with their outward displays of righteousness and holiness, even though they knew in their own hearts inwardly that they were far, far away from Him.

Well this would eventually again become the key point of contention between these religious leaders and John, and then of course later the religious leaders and Jesus Himself.

John’s Testimony Concerning the Coming One

Well, John now gives his first testimony as to who he’s preparing the way for and why his ministry of calling for repentance and baptism is needed even for these religious leaders. And the first part of John’s testimony is that the one who’s coming after him is much greater.

In verse 26,

I baptize with water, but there stands one among you whom you do not know. It is he who coming after me is preferred before me whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.

Yes, John baptizes with water. Again, an outward ritual symbol or sign of cleansing and purification. But the one coming after him will baptize with a greater baptism. And though the apostle John doesn’t record it here, we find John the Baptist’s testimony later in the other gospel accounts. Where he says, I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and the fire.

See, John administers the outward sign. But what he’s saying is that the one coming after me, the Messiah, is going to baptize with the reality that’s signified. The true cleansing of sin and granting of forgiveness by the work of the Holy Spirit.

So John makes clear to us here that the water of baptism does nothing in and of itself. But it’s the greater baptism of the Holy Spirit that cleanses and washes away sins.

But also note how John further exalts the coming Messiah. That though he’s coming after John, he’s to be preferred before John. That is, to be esteemed greater than John. John is preparing the way for him. It’s not the other way around. John personalizes this even further by humbly acknowledging that he isn’t even worthy to stoop down to loosen the Messiah’s sandal strap.

Such a thing would often be done by the lowest of low servants. end of the servant on chain, I don’t know. He’s at the bottom of the pile. The lowest of the low. That would be his job. The master comes in and he’s gotta get down and take off his sandals, take off the master’s sandals and prepare to wash the master’s feet. And again, think about Jesus later taking such a position washing the disciples’ feet.

But here, John is saying, I’m not even worthy of such an honor. So I’m lower than the lowest of the servants. So much greater is the Messiah than John that he is not even worthy to untie his sandal straps. John is just merely a voice of one crying in the wilderness, needy, lonely, and desolate.

The coming King is most glorious and is deserving of all the attention and of all the honor.

The Messiah Is Already Among Them

Which then leads to the second aspect of John’s important testimony given here of the Messiah. And that is, He is indeed coming. Yes, John has come first to prepare the way, but the Messiah is surely coming. He is soon coming after John. Indeed, John makes clear, He is in fact already in their midst. He is among them even now, though they do not know Him. But He will soon be revealed, and when He comes, He must be preferred before John, for He is truly greater. John prepares His way.

But He is the King, the long-promised Messiah. And Lord will save His people from their sins.

Application for Today

Beloved God, this is the testimony of John. He was called by God for a very specific reason and purpose in time. To be a lonely voice, crying out in the wilderness. To call people to repent and be baptized. to prepare themselves for the coming of the King.

And as we all know, this King has indeed come. In fact, as we’ll see, Lord willing, in a couple weeks, that He comes the very next day, in fact. And John will say, when he sees Him, and he will cry out, Behold, there is the Lamb of God, who has come to take away the sins of the world. The long-awaited Messiah has come. And He has come to His own.

Even to these religious leaders. And yet, they rejected Him. And they didn’t receive their promised Messiah. Nor did they listen to the promised prophet like Moses, whom the Lord raised up from among them. Nor were their hearts ready and prepared to receive the comfort, the mercy, the grace, and the forgiveness of sins that He would secure. They rejected Him, and they would be held to account, even as the Lord had promised.

But beloved of God, what does this say to us? What does John testimony? What does his testimony mean for us today? Are your hearts ready and prepared?

Have you been cleansed and washed from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit, not just made wet with water? A cleansing made possible because of what this same Messiah, even Jesus, accomplished for undeserving sinners. When He gave Himself as that once for all perfect sacrifice for sin. When He endured the curse of death in your place. And then secure that salvation. When He rose from the dead in power and glory on the third day.

Are you prepared? Because He is coming again. He is coming at a day and an hour that we do not know. but He is coming again to usher in the fullness of His kingdom. He is coming to judge the living and the dead, and He is coming to exalt those who even now would call upon His name in faith.

And so yes, the voice of one crying out in the wilderness still is crying out. Repent, and make straight the way of the Lord. For He is coming. He is coming to usher in His kingdom in its fullness. He is coming to usher in the last great day beyond which there will be no hope for salvation. He is coming all to the praise and glory of His name alone.

Closing Prayer

O gracious God in heaven, we do praise you and thank you for your word, for your reminder of these great truths. And we thank you for this example that you give to us in your word of John the Baptist, lowly and humble, and yet he was focused on exalting the one who would come after him who was greater than him. And yet his mission was to prepare the people to cry out. And father, you wouldn’t an example that is for us today.

Now we are able, by your grace, because of where you have placed us in the span of human history, we can look back on the glorious things that Christ has come, that this Messiah came to accomplish, that He did come, that He did secure salvation and the forgiveness of sins for His people, that He did die on the cross for sins, that He did rise again from the dead on the third day. And He did ascend to your right hand where He now reigns and rules over all things for our blessing and benefit as people of the church. So we can look back on those things.

But we also look forward because we know that He is coming again. And that the message of John to prepare hearts For the King is coming, that that message still needs to be cried out from out the wilderness, even not just from the wilderness, but from the city streets, from all over the world. It needs to go forth. That the Messiah, the King is coming. People need to repent and turn from their sins. Make straight the way of the Lord, that when He comes, they will be ready to acknowledge Him and receive Him with all joy and gladness, instead of fear and trembling and a foreboding sense of destruction.

Father, John’s mission and ministry is what you have given to your church. And we pray, Lord, that you would even use us and other faithful congregations to be that voice crying out to call people to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. And so we just pray, Father, especially that as that voice cries out, that it especially would pierce our own hearts, drawing us all closer to you. in faith and understanding, and that you would equip us to be faithful witnesses, testifying of these things, that the Lord is coming, because he lives and he reigns forever. Father, we pray for your blessing in these things. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.